Miacomet Pond Clean Up

Saturday I biked over to Miacomet Pond to volunteer with the Nantucket Clean Team. The Clean Team is a dedicated group of volunteers who heads out every Saturday morning, spring to fall, to a different part of the island, to pick up trash and recyclables.

As I got to the head of the pond near the small spit of beach that divides the pond from the ocean, I had a little trouble finding the group. My thanks to Cassie and her Mom who pointed me in the right direction. Once I found the car with the supplies I donned my blue gloves, grabbed a clear bag for trash, and a paper bag for recyclables and headed off down the road picking up trash, cans and bottles along the way. An hour later everyone met back at the supply vehicle to sort the recyclables. After which I said thanks to all the volunteers and then headed back to my bicycle to enjoy the day, feeling grateful to all volunteers for what they do.

Special thanks to Sarah, Grant and Bill for all they do to organize the clean ups and for their dedication to keeping Nantucket clean and green! You are so very much appreciated!

See you in a few weeks.

People Matter, Things Don't - The Story of Stuff at the Nantucket Atheneum

Last night my daughter and I went to the Nantucket Atheneum to hear Annie Leonard, author of The Story of Stuff speak on every one's obsession with stuff and it's effect on us, the planet and what we can do about it.

Annie began by sharing that she took a tour of the Madaket dump that morning and was thrilled at the recycling rates on Nantucket - 92%! Kudos to Nantucket town, it's citizens and visitors for that achievement. Unfortunately, much of the USA is not doing anywhere near that well. Let's face it, most Americans generate a LOT of trash, on average, 4.5 lbs. per citizen in the US.

Annie also shared that we're going through way more resources than the Earth can provide, somewhere between 1.3 and 1.6 TIMES the Earth's resources, each year. Hardly a sustainable pace.

So what can we do about it? First, watch the Story of Stuff video. Second, choose non-toxic products from cleaning to personal care to electronics and appliances. The Good Guide is a great place to start, although not all brands are listed. Third, vow to do without that umpteenth pair of shoes or another new whatever. In other words stop buying what you already have. Next, donate what you don't need to the Hospital Thrift Shop, "Madaket Mall," FreeCycle, or wherever - pass it on to someone who needs what you no longer need.

And last but by no means least, invite a few friends over... for coffee, for appetizers, for dinner, for dessert, just because. Life is about living, and it's about people. What makes us happiest is not all the stuff, it's the connections and friendships we make and have. So call a friend and get together!
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Annie was invited to speak at the Nantucket Atheneum by ReMain Nantucket. Their mission is "dedicated to strengthening the lasting economic, environmental, and social vitality of downtown Nantucket, while preserving its unique character and spirit." Thank You!

EPA bans aldicarb, toxic pesticide - better late than never

First registered in 1970 for use on cotton, Temik (also know as aldicarb) has been used on numerous crops including cotton, peanuts, potatoes, citrus crops, soy and sugarcane. Forty years later the FDA now says "aldicarb doesn't meet US food safety standards."

Thank you. But I wonder what took so long. Why? Because back in 1985, quite a few people became ill after ingesting watermelon that had been sprayed with aldicarb. Now 25 years later the EPA has decided to take action, but this will be slow too, because under the agreement with the EPA, the manufacturer Bayer CropScience won't stop manufacturing aldicarb until 2015! Although use on citrus and potatoes will end in 2011.

As always, it's buyer beware when it comes to choosing wisely for yourself and your family, especially for infants and toddlers. So what to do? Choose organic if you can. If that's not an option, buy local at your local Farmer's Market - it's the next best thing! And last but not least, refer to the Dirty Dozen list of foods that are most contaminated with pesticide residue. Also check out the Clean Fifteen list at the same link (scroll down).

It's unhealthy... the VitaminWater lawsuit

"Coca-Cola is being sued by a non-profit public interest group (The Center for Science in the Public Interest) on the grounds that the company's vitaminwater products make unwarranted health claims." Read the article here.

Duh, you think? But to me, the really BIG news is the company's official response:

"Lawyers for Coca-Cola are defending the lawsuit by asserting that "no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage."

So does that mean that The Average Joe is
A) naïve
B) an idiot, or
C) "it's okay for a corporation to lie about its products, as long as they can then turn around and claim that no one actually believes their lies?"

The name "VitaminWater" makes you think of a drink that is water with some added vitamins - the perfect ending to a good workout. It's not until you read the label that you discover that it's full of added sugar -- 30+ grams to be exact, plus 125 calories per bottle! So much for that workout.

Bottom line, read labels, and please, don't rely on a soft drink company for your vitamins or other essential nutrients.

Anyone for some filtered water?