My overarching themes turned out to be food and gardening (no surprise) with several horses galloping in one corner (surprise!) and lots of tomatoes everywhere. (I’m not a good tomato grower and I’m hoping that by focusing on them everyday on my office wall I will create some magic!) And since I’m a Cancer, I am always happiest when there are friends gathered around the table feasting and laughing.

My ‘Visionary” table includes 9 women..with the spirit of a 10th rising in the background. We will enjoy a meal from Julia Child’s “Art of French Cooking” and toast the joy she brought to the kitchen. Bette Midler joins us to tell tales of the gardens she’s started in New York City, Helen Mirren brings her earthy self and Pema Chodrin sits between Sheri S. Tepper and Christine Lagarde. Lauren Hutton seems to grow more beautiful every year and is a study in survival and adaptation. Maya Angelou smiles her great warm smile that teeters on the edge of laughter and Terry Gross leans slightly forward in her chair, perhaps preparing to say something to Nell Newman.

These are women I’d love to spend an afternoon talking with over salad and a crusty bread. They have all made unique contributions to my life-role models all! They are women of wisdom and wonder, of strength and perseverance.

Its a small vision board and the women are the lower left corner, and the more I look at them, the more I like them.

Peace
Diann

Going to the nursery and getting new plants was once the most wonderful springtime event of all; coming back with a trunk full of possibilities and promise. But let me tell you, going to the feed store and seeing all the new baby chicks, ducklings, guinea hens and peacocks and hens might have taken over first place in the springtime festival. And just like pouring over the seed catalogs, we poured over websites checking out the various breeds of chickens. Layers or broilers? Layers definitely! Of course they’ll be named and live their lives out here in downtown Tempe. And we wanted docile and non-flighty since we want lots of people to visit with them and have children feel comfortable around them. So after much consideration, we decided on 3 Buff Orppingtons and 2 Russian Orloffs.

This is the first time we’ve had wee little day old chicks. They must be kept at 95 degrees for the first week and 90 degrees the second week and the final week at 85-which is just about the rate at which we’re warming up here in the valley. Then they’re free to be outside in the recycled chicken tractor that will be their home for the next few months. One of our neighbors offered the tractor since they were building a much bigger coop and he heard we wanted chicks. We can move the tractor around the yard, sun in the AM, shade in the PM. It even has a roost inside.
The new chicks won’t be laying for 6 months, so Irma (the black hen) and Blanche (the white hen) will continue to be the egg providers and insect control team until the new recruits are fully on board.

Our new fruit trees are now going into their 3rd year so this will be an abundant production season. The rule of thumb with many fruit trees says “the first year they sleep, the second year-creep, and third year-LEAP!” But with all the help from the bees in the yard we should have a bumper crop of peaches, nectarines and apricots.

And the grapes are putting out lots of new growth that we really must get up into an arbor not yet constructed. Last year the grapes ran rampant over the back fence and wall and nearly became a menace-getting up into trees and crawling over the gardens-but we got lots of fruit-and so did the birds. It took awhile to learn that grapes only produce fruit on new wood growth, so you must really prune them back severely to encourage fruiting.

We’ve become quite comfortable sharing the fruit and veggie production with the visiting birds-they get the top fruit that we can’t reach. Seems fair. And since we’re out in the garden daily we have a chance to see what’s going on and harvest accordingly.

This is that time of year when the neighbors say to each other as we walk our dogs- ”This is why we live here!”

Peace,
Diann

It’s that time of year. Cold and flu season is here. The focus is on microbes and germs and getting rid of them before illness befalls. As a matter of fact, killing germs has become a national obsession!
Researchers at Arizona State University have been studying the impacts of antibacterial products on the market and their findings have been of great importance in our misguided efforts to create a germ-free world.
Triclosan and triclocarban are chemical compounds found in wide variety of personal care products such as antimicrobial soaps and triclosan is formulated into products ranging from plastics and toys to clothing. Rolf Halden, a researcher with the ASU Biodesign Institute, began asking if these antimicrobial chemicals are safe for human health and the environment. The answer is an emphatic “NO”!!
Antimicrobials first appeared in commercial hand soaps in the ‘80’s and by 2001, 76% of liquid hand soaps contained triclosan.
Halden’s team tracked the environmental ramifications of the active ingredients in personal care products. They found that triclosan and triclocarban first aggregate in wastewater sludge and then travel to soils and natural waterways where they can persist for years. These chemicals are notoriously difficult to break down and they are averse to water, sticking in particles and decreasing breakdown and leading to transport in water and air.
Both triclosan and triclocarban have been linked to endocrine system distruption with potential negative impacts on sexual and neurological development. The accumulation in these chemicals in the natural environment may in the long run increase the possibility that a super-bug, resistant to the antimicrobials developed to kill them. The impacts on human health could be dire.
We need effective regulation of these chemicals but agencies are weighed down by inertia. We must all tread labels and avoid any products containing triclosan and triclocarban.
My writing is based on the article that appeared several months ago in the ASU University News publication and has been posted on my office wall since then. Today is the day that it again caught my attention. As an ecologist, I have long been aware that our soils and waterways are at peril from the compounds and chemicals that are making their way from the store shelf into the natural world. We have a long tradition of pouring old medications and toxins into home toilets, which has had a devastating impact on rivers and streams and their denizens.
Halden states that “The culture of fear leads people to make impulsive decisions and buy a lot of antimicrobial products that are not really needed. It’s a profitable market to be in, but not one that is ultimately sustainable or a good idea.”

By now you know that I’m about to launch into a diatribe in support of our ongoing goal-eliminating household chemical saturation. Some of the most noxious household chemicals are lurking in your laundry area…the ubiquitous and much advertised dryer sheets and fabric softeners.

Did you know that sensitivity to dryer sheets and fabric softeners is the No. 2 consumer complaint behind perfume? Have you stopped walking in your neighborhood on Saturday mornings because of the offensive and cloying smell wafting from neighbors’ dryer vents. I have a friend who experiences burning skin, respiratory irritation, anxiety attacks and irritability. He became so sensitive to the fumes that he had to couldn’t sleep in his bed until he got all new bedding material. So what’s up with these laundry products? Plenty.
Wouldn’t you love to have full disclosure of ingredients in consumer products? Given how many people complain about getting sick from dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener, it is disturbing that there is so little research available for the general public about the ingredients in them. Did you know that dryer sheets and fabric softeners actually waterproof your clothes to make them feel softer!

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry-generated Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from the 1990s, the following is a list of chemicals in fabric softener products, most in untested combinations. Liquid fabric softeners additionally may contain formaldehyde.
• Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer.
• Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant.
• Ethanol: On the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders.
• Limonene: Suspected Gastrointestinal or Liver Toxicant, Immunotoxicant,
Kidney Toxicant, Neurotoxicant,
Respiratory Toxicant, and Skin or Sense Organ Toxicant.
• A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage.
• Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list.
• Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders.
• Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic.
• Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders.
• Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled.

To hide the chemical smell, companies load dryer sheets full of chemical fragrances, which are potentially carcinogenic.
Dryer sheets are designed to stay on clothing for a long period of time and slowly release their chemicals throughout the day, which leads to prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals.

The toxins in dryer sheets and their chemical fragrances enter the body through inhalation or are absorbed through the skin. Some of the symptoms experienced from prolonged exposure to the chemicals in dryer sheets include headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, central nervous system disorders, fatigue, difficulty breathing, skin irritation, difficulty concentrating and remembering, cancer, irritation to skin, mucus membranes and respiratory tract, and liver damage. All that risk for ‘soft’ clothes??

Fabric softeners are primarily static cling busters. One easy way to avoid using them is to avoid synthetic fabrics and instead use natural fibers. Read on, there are safer alternatives to dryer sheets and fabric softeners.

If you love not having clingy clothing, however, you can try one of these green options:
• Fill a small cloth sack with dried herbs like lavender or basil. This will help scent your laundry.
• Purchase some essential oils like lavender, sandalwood, or mint. Drip a few drops on a cloth, and throw it into the dryer with the rest of your clothes.

If you’re worried about cling, then add one or two tablespoons of vinegar to your washing machine’s rinse cycle. This will help the wrinkles fall out in the dryer. You can also try adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your rinse cycle if the vinegar doesn’t do the trick.

Peace.

My favorite go-to eco-info website remains ewg.org. This is the home of a team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers that pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and their own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions. EWG’s research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know. That’s where I learn about unregulated household chemicals, make-up hazards and sunscreen effectiveness. They also have a terrific app available for your smart phone called ‘Dirty Produce’ featuring the ‘dirty dozen’ and the ‘clean 15′. Makes life easier when you’re in the grocery store and wondering if its safe to buy commercially grown celery. (It isn’t, by the way.)
We’ve found EWG to be the most comprehensive and consistent site to keep up with what’s happening that we never read about anywhere else.
Happy Holidays and A Great Green New Year to All!
Peace.

Consign them: Clothes that are clean and in good condition but no longer fit or have been hanging untouched in your closet since you bought them are prime candidates for consignment shops. Consignment shops display your old clothing and give you a pre-determined fraction of the profits (usually between 30 and 50 percent) once your items sell. It’s an easy way to recycle and may even earn you a few dollars. When dealing with consignment stores, it’s always a good idea to call ahead. Some only accept specific items, seasons, and sizes, or require an appointment.



Sell them online: Can’t find a consignment shop in your area? Try an online auction site, such as eBay.com or ShopGoodwill.com, to sell unwanted clothing from your home computer.



Swap them: Another great option for saying goodbye to old clothes is to host a swap party, a great way of merging reuse with socializing and community building. Invite friends and family to bring articles of clothing that they want to give away but are still in wearable condition. Party attendees exchange items for a win-win deal: they rid their closets of unwanted items and take home new ones for free. 

Any leftover pieces can be donated to the charity of your choice. Some schools and organizations have even organized benefit fashion shows for a charity or nonprofit where each partygoer models an outfit constructed from items at the wap.

 Organize an annual clothing swap in your neighborhood or community group.



Donate to Those in Need: Perhaps the most popular route for disposing of old clothing is through donation to charities. It’s the perfect deal: you get rid of your unwanted clothing while helping others in need.


Charities: Many homeless or women’s shelters are happy to receive clothing donations, particularly during the winter months. However, not all shelters can accept donations, and many are looking for specific items or sizes. Before heading over, call your local shelter to find out if your old clothes would be helpful. More often than not, if your needs don’t match up, they’ll be happy to direct you to another organization or shelter wanting what you have to offer.


Don’t forget Goodwill, a nonprofit provider of education and career training for people with disadvantages or disabilities, which accepts donations of clothing and household items to be resold at its 2,000 retail stores throughout the country. Its convenient pick-up program makes donation virtually effortless. 


For business clothing, Dress for Success, a nonprofit with chapters in 73 US cities, accepts donations of women’s suits, shoes, and briefcases, which are passed on to economically disadvantaged women entering the professional world.


Even your old athletic shoes can find new homes. One World Running, a Colorado nonprofit formerly known as Shoes for Africa, sends still-wearable running shoes and gear, soccer cleats, and baseball equipment to athletes in sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, and Haiti.

 If your shoes are in no longer in wearable condition, send them to Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program, a project that grinds up and recycles athletic shoe material to build playground mats, basketball courts, and running tracks.


Also, if you can part with your wedding gown, consider donating it to the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. Making Memories sells the gowns and uses the proceeds to grant wishes to terminal breast cancer patients.



Too Worn to Wear: So you’ve unloaded at the consignment shops and sent off bags for donation, but you’re still left with a pile of clothing that’s simply too old, stained, or undesirable for resale, swap, or donation. 

My favorite option for these items is to cut them into rags for use around the house. They’re washable and reusable, and provide a perfect, eco-friendly substitute for paper towels.


Yet another little-known option for clothing that’s too worn to wear is the nearest animal shelter. Many animal shelters, pet boarding kennels, and veterinarians will happily accept old clothes to use as bedding for animal cages. 

And many large charities like Goodwill actually sell unwearable clothing they receive as donations to textile recycling centers (which generally do not accept donations from individuals). Call your local Goodwill to find out what it does with unwearable clothing. It may take your worn clothes off your hands-possibly in exchange for a donation of usable goods or money to cover any associated costs-for resale overseas or recycling.



No matter which of these green options you choose, you’ll rest easy knowing that your clothing isn’t contributing to landfill waste.

 And with winter cold coming on, someone needs your help staying warm.