If you aren't vegan - shopping for eggs can be confusing

Here's a link to a recent New York Times article that talks about all the different kinds eggs and what some of the terms mean: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/dining/17eggs.html

I've always been wary of chicken eggs that come from chickens fed an "all vegetarian diet." Chickens naturally like hunting around for bugs. If they are fed an all vegetarian diet, that automatically means that the poor birds probably have no time to graze and forage for food on their own.

I thought the article was interesting. It also points out phrases I've seen on packaging that, I learned, are actually useless.

Natural Products Reviews: Deodorant Stone and Soap Nuts

This year Toby and I have been testing out some natural products (mostly body and cleaning stuff). Since we've now been using them for many months, I figured I'd give you our verdict on them.

Thai Crystal Deodorant Stone: After Tom's of Maine changed their formula and it started making my armpits burn and itch and my skin peel off, we decided to start trying out other "natural" deodorants. We tried quite a few, and none of them worked. After trying about half a dozen ineffective types, pointed me in the direction of the Thai Crystal Deodorant Stone. I was skeptical, but this thing really does work! Even when we go on long bike rides, this stuff works like a charm. The only caveat is that if you don't shower every day you may occasionally have to give your armpits a scrub to keep the Stone's effectiveness up. I shower about once or twice a week, and I only occasionally have to scrub, but at the beginning I did have to scrub more frequently.

Now when I find myself without a Deodorant Stone and have to use regular old stick deodorant, my armpits feel sticky and gross. The Stone is much, much more comfortable.

If you try this, don't worry about getting a crystal in a holder. The salt rock itself is completely inoffensive to hold and won't feel yucky on your hand. Bonus: it won't get any white shmoo on your clothes if you accidentally brush it against them, and there will be no white yucky junk on the armpit of your shirt.

Bonus: One crystal lasts a really long time, even with two people using it, so in the long run it is dramatically cheaper than regular types of deodorant.

Soap nuts (laundry soap): We've been using these babies for most of a year now, and they've done a fantastic job of ridding our clothes of both the sweat and salt of winter and the dirt and grime of summer. We've used them to wash all kinds of disgusting stuff (cooking oil, bike grease, encrusted mud, etc). Normally one just needs to tuck a couple of nuts into the included cloth bag and toss it into the washer. We wash all of our clothes in cold water, so we boil water and steep the nuts for a few minutes before tossing them (and the "tea") into the laundry, and it works perfectly. There are no drawbacks.

Bonus: The nuts are fantastic for sensitive skin, and they leave no scent. Since it only takes 2 nuts to wash a load of laundry, they are actually very cost effective. (And some companies claim that they can be re-used several times, although we haven't tried that, so I can't vouch for it.)

What Price Cotton?

An interesting article: If biofuels are so bad, why aren't we campaigning against cotton?

Green Grilling

Photo from http://www.metaefficient.com

I realize I'm probably in the minority of Americans who are over 30 and yet do not own a grill.

At first, as a vegetarian, I figured there might not be much point. But, grilled vegetables are quite tasty, as is grilled tofu.

With the different kinds of grills on the market, I first wanted to learn what type is considered the most eco-friendly. Hands down, a solar grill would win that award. Never having heard of anyone who actually owned one, however, and not finding any reviews, I decided I had to pass. (If anyone here either has one or knows someone who does, please post a review! I'd love to hear about it!)

An old article in Grist helped me decide that either a gas or propane grill was what I needed. The Dallas News also had an article about going "green" at backyard barbecues this year as well.

Now I just need to keep my eyes open and keep searching Craig's List until a small gas/propane model comes available. After all, buying one used will be more frugal and green than purchasing a new model.

Planet Green: TV for the Eco minded

Yesterday was the launch of Discovery Networks latest Chanel Planet Green... well actually they renamed Discovery Home and changed the programming, but the thought is bang in the right place.

With 24 hour programming featuring green home renovation, tips for organic cooking, a look at what celebs are doing to be green and reality shows where families are challenged to green up there is something for all tastes.

This being the age of technology an accompanying website can be found here

Food Sources

Here's an interesting article about the emotions involved in urban chicken farming. I feel like someday I'd love to raise chickens for eggs, but I'm not sure I could ever actually kill my own. I think if I did I would become a vegetarian...

This summer I've been trying an experiment of cooking one vegetarian dinner meal per week - I refer to myself as a "meatatarian" (preferring to eat meat over veggies), so this even once-a-week attempt is a big thing for me. My reasoning for trying this is that vegetarian meals have a significantly smaller impact on the environment - less land use, less water use, and less CO_2 production - not to mention that it's good for the health to reduce the fat intake (especially since I don't exercise).

So far I did Quorn Chik'n Cutlets Parasean last week, and yesterday I did Morning Star Vegan Grillers Burgers. It does appear to be more costly than an omnivore diet b/c I've been getting meat substitutes - if I were not focusing on doing so, I expect it would be cheaper than an omnivore diet. My opinion two weeks in is that it's interesting experience so far, and I can certainly put up with it for one meal a week for the duration of the summer, but I'm afraid I miss my meat too much to do it more than that. I expect come Fall I'll revert to my more normal dietary practice, but maybe once a month I'll be able to do a veggie meal. That may not be a huge improvement upon my old diet, but any little bit helps.

Tea Time

I drink a lot of tea, particularly herbal tea. Here are some frugal eco tips for tea drinkers:

- Reuse your teabags. You can get at least two good mugs of tea out of a single teabag. For best results, fish out your teabag after the recommended steeping time, squeeze it gently, and set it aside until you're ready for your second cup.

- Buy loose tea. Loose tea is often cheaper than teabags and creates less waste. Many health food stores sell bulk loose tea, which saves even more packaging and is often even more economical. You can buy reusable cloth teabags or tea eggs at health food stores. I often find tea eggs at yard sales, too.