Green Guys Media

I will start by saying I am barely green. I am more like celery green (not green enough to make a statement but I ain’t “yeller”).  I am of Latin descent; my veggie consumption has been limited to potatoes and plantains that are usually served as a side dish to massive amounts of red juicy steaks and sausages. I drive a big ole F-150 pick-up truck. Going to Whole Foods and paying a whole extra dollar a pound for anything in the “organic section” was inexcusable. “Fuck it”, I would say, “It is all going to the same place at the end”…no pun intended.

Going green requires a level of selflessness I have not yet acquired. I am willing to forgo many non-green things. I am willing to part ways with using paper to print; I will wipe my ass with recycled but not so Charming soft TP I already read books on Kindle, and I wear Bare Essentials Makeup (derived from the Earth, not that I need it if I can say so myself!).  I am all for feeding my pets Organic food packaged in recycled bags, I may even try the “green tampons”.  I don’t run the faucet while I brush my teeth and I am willing to skip a shower for the every-other-day deal and do a Cuban shower every now and again (Cuban Shower: Wipe armpits, ears and neck with damp cloth, use a cup of water and soap to sanitize crotch and erogenous zones, and spray body spray)…. BUT Will I ever drive a “Smartcar”? I may…Well, honestly, say what you will but: ME: Not in this fucking lifetime!  Unless they come up with a V8 that is environmentally friendly while still having the ability to do all the things my “Beast” does, or the world rids itself of Semi Trucks, Drunk drivers, teenagers behind the wheel, especially those getting their first “roadhead”, Little old ladies in huge Cadillacs swerving from lane to lane, and  “texting whilst holding a bagel and coffee” drivers…. I like to feel safe, secure, high up, and not worry that I will be crushed between the wheels of two semis. I also have reasons for why I like a truck:

•  Drive in movies! (prop up two lounge chairs, a lil’ cooler and a small bbq on the back of that baby and enjoy. 

•  Camping (inflate-a-bed on the truck bed…ah! sleep with nature looking t you, you looking at the stars and not be so close to the dirt that a snake may sneak into my sleeping quarters.

•  Fishing: Nothing stinks up the inside of a vehicle like fresh caught fish and bait/chum and spilled Shrimp water. That shit needs to stay OUTSIDE of my vehicle, sort of speak.

•  Moving and hauling: Yes and yes, I do quite a bit of it.

•  Wet dogs: You know what wet dog smells like! I hate taking the dogs for a swim/hike/dunk and then having to smell them on the way back to the house. They are happy to air dry in their nice comfy cages on the back of the truck.

•  Lookin’ badass: Who doesn’t love a girl in a Pick Up Truck!

I love nature, don’t get me wrong…I love animals, I love to pet them, play with them, care for them, but I love to eat the edible ones. I even had my own “pet walking/Dog sitting business” for a year and a half. I love fishing (I have always disposed safely of my used fishing line and hooks). I love waterfalls, and oceans and anything out there that is not behind cement walls. I am ok with bugs, except flying cockroaches, they all can go F**k themselves slowly…. but I never really took a deep look at the things that have affected and will affect the future of these things and creatures I love so much.

What will happen in 10-15 years to the rivers I love to fish in? Sooo, my 3 eyed catch not a result of incestuous fish mating?  Mercury poisoning my sashimi?  My future grandchildren shall never be allowed to eat dirt like I used to do when I was three?

I first started to dip into the nature-conservation and greener things a few years ago (maybe 2 if pushing it) when I moved from the Suburbs into the City of Atlanta, more specifically, the Inman Park/Virginia Highlands area.  Around these parts, the menus read “Organic/vegan/vegetarian/humanely raised/farm raised/grass fed/recycled/100% natural/locally grown”. Bar counters were build from recycled rail ties/hay/sustainable materials/horse dung/cardboard. I wondered if some homeless guy was now totally utterly more homeless because someone in Inman Park was picking up and “stealing” any and all cardboard box he saw to make a bar countertop for “Parrish Restaurant”.

Slowly I began purchasing more “green items”. My working as a dog walker didn’t provide for much cashola. I bought my truck when gas hit $5.15b a gallon, then drive home and pretty much parked it because in Inman Park you can pretty much get anywhere on foot (groceries, pharmacies, restaurants, bars, physicians, etc.) So I was very selective and rarely splurged on anything that was more than $1.50 more than the “regular” items. I figured it this way:  pay for Organic root veggies because the dirt they suck their vitality from needs to be cleaner for my consumption. Do not buy organic anything growing over the dirt (lettuce, tomatoes, you go figure)…but then, the roots of these other veggies are sucking water that is coming from the evil dirt…. hmmm, choices, choices.

Honestly, I didn’t really know what I was doing and I am still ignoramus about it, but for about 6 months I have been making several purchases of other “organic” and “green products” which I feel proud of. I also favor restaurants that grown their own vegetables and buy organic, or from locally grown farms.  To name all (see this list, is short…but I have to start somewhere!):

• “Green” Razor

• Recyclable/reusable Shopping bags (I have 6 because do forget to bring mine)

• Organix shampoo and conditioner (need to switch because apparently my new hair extensions cannot be washed with any shampoo containing Sodium laureth sulfate)

• Certified Grade A Shea Butter (Fucktastic, by the way, never again will I spend $$ on regular lotions or wrinkle creams)

• Organic Wines

• Organic yogurt

• Grass Fed beef

• Humanely raised, and wild caught Salmon

• Organic Goat Milk

• Organic salad items

• Organic Snacks

It took me two hours to come up with this list. It is very sad that I examined my life for the past year and a half and I can only come up with bout ten things, mostly food items!

An old friend who I recently ran into a few months ago has a plan to launch an environmentally friendly packaging business. I am about to research this and will definitively become part of that company, whether selling, marketing or spreading the word. More on that on another dedicated blog.

So, as far as resolutions go, I didn’t do the all too familiar and almost always a failure: “Join the gym, drink less, give more, go to church,” that most of us promise ourselves to do starting the New Year. I said the following:

“I will start eating healthier, finally volunteer and go greener” …and of course, join the gym.

By Vanessa Martinez - Atlanta, GA

In Taiwan alone there are 6.5 million pigs contributing to massive river pollution by simple means of their daily urination alone. Disgusting, obviously; however, thanks to one Taiwanese farmer, Change Chung-tou, many local residents are drinking fresher water these days. The farmer began training his piglets to use a litter box, much like the one your household cat uses. He had such outstanding results that he has began advocating his ways to farmers worldwide.

Earth Times has reported that Change Chung-tou, owner of Shantung Animal Husbandry Farm in Yunlin county, began potty training his little pigs about six-years-ago in order to conserve water and keep his local environment as clean as possible. Chang-tou's unique ways included setting up liter boxes (one per-40 pigs) and training them while they were still piglets!

The actual disposal consists of a vacuumization-process, which keeps the area utterly waste-free. Chang-tou reported an astounding 50% savings on both water usage and waste. He also was happy to avoid fines given to him in recent years by environmental authorities. Instead, the same authorities are praising him for his work and helping to encourage and advocate other farmers to follow in his footsteps.

Believe it or not pigs actually enjoy being in a clean environment, so they are all about it! A happy farmer, makes a happy pig?

Image source: http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/

By Christine Capuano - Arizona Green Girl

I've met many people who want to help do their part in making this planet a better place, but aren't quite sure where to start.  A Los Angeles based company by the name of Sustainable Works might just be the perfect solution for these green hungry people. 

Sustainable Works is a non-profit environmental education organization whose mission is to "foster a culture of sustainability in cities, colleges, and businesses."  The idea is to not only educate people about the positive environmental impact they can make, but to also show them exactly how to implement these strategies and life style choices in their everyday situations.   

From showing individuals simple yet effective methods to be more water efficient, to helping large companies implement money saving, efficiency raising environmental business practices, Sustainable Works has created a variety of programs to assist both corporations and individuals in reducing their carbon footprints and becoming more sustainable.

I recently ran into the Executive Director of Sustainable Works, Barent Roth, at Blogger Beach Clean-Up.  I had the pleasure of meeting Barent earlier this year at the Tomorrow Starts Today 2009 Fundraiser, an annual event that Sustainable Works puts on to help organize, promote, and recognize environmental individuals and organizations in the Los Angeles community.  Barent has an undeniable enthusiasm and obvious passion for making where we live a cleaner greener place.  With someone like him at the helm, Sustainable Works clearly has the potential to make a strong impact in the environmental community, and help reduce the carbon footprint of the individuals and companies it educates and consults.  

For more info about the organization go to http://www.sustainableworks.org/

By Erik Lingvall - Green Guys Los Angeles, Everywhere U.S.A.

Image source:  Sustainable Works

If you’ve stepped foot inside your local Target or Walgreens lately, you know very well that Holiday shopping is already in full-effect! Although with this helpful list of gift ideas for your favorite fellow tree-huggers there is no need to stress over what to buy your favorite people this year! The gift of giving can finally be fun again! There is a little something on here for absolutely everybody from young to old and picky to easy-to-please. These presents are bound to satisfy your loved ones, the environment and even your wallet.

For those classy folks out there who enjoy the nightly glass of vino, why not indulge in a membership to the Organic Wine Club? It’s the perfect gift for any Green-enthusiast who is 21 and over. All wines are formulated from 100% organically grown grapes and are absolutely pesticide-free, which will steer clear of those who happen to get irritated by those awful harsh chemicals. For just $50/month your loved one can have three bottles of delicious wine delivered right to their door each month!

What about our little “Greenies-in-Training”? No worries, we have something extra special this season for those little guys! This year forget about those over-priced, impossible to put together Barbie dream houses and focus on a gift that is a little more practical, but just as fun! Our friends over at Smart Gear have created an impeccable eco-friendly dollhouse that is sure to have your child’s friends green with envy! The wonder-world house is constructed entirely from sustainable rubber wood and colored with water-based paints. For just $160 your little ones can enjoy the perks of a doll house that is equipped with educational environmentally-friendly finishing touches such as recycling bins, a solar panel, wind mill, rain barrel, and three wooden dolls who can take turns riding around on their state of the art bicycle. Enjoy livin’ the green life kiddos!

How about something for those pop-culture fanatics? Well, honestly... who doesn’t love a little Jack Johnson. In case you missed out on Jack’s epic 2008 tour it’s not too late to enjoy something extra-special for his true fans out there who want a little more than the average over played radio songs! Johnson may be one of the biggest Green Guys on the planet and thanks to his heart of gold (or green?) he has decided to offer a special “En Concert” Collectors Addition gift package that doesn’t require any kind of backstage pass to access. This set includes his concert CD, DVD, vinyl album, poster, a t-shirt, not to mention 19 downloadable tracks for only $75. This is one of those gifts that truly says a thousand words. Whoever is the lucky recipient of this lovely gem will be thanking you all season.

Ahhh and then there’s those lovely fashionistas who always make it impossible to shop for! How do you buy something for someone whose taste is consistently based off of what the current trends of that very moment are? This year how about choose something that is impossibly stylish, yet also beneficial for the environment?  Thanks to the dynamic design duo Alex and Ahi that is oh so very possible! This year it’s time to skip those trends that come equipped with a six-month lifespan and instead buy your loved one a current-celebrity must-have, which of course are none other than Alex and Ahi’s gorgeous bangles! These incredibly boho chic bracelets are designed entirely from recycled materials and are the perfect accessory to dress up any holiday party look. They range from $68-$348. Each bangle is even expandable for the perfect fit! Now honestly.. what’s better than that?

We saved the best for last...for all those animal-lovers out there why not make someone’s holiday by giving the gift of man’s best friend? You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars and buy a sparkling brand new, tough-to-train puppy at one of those glitzy pet stores at the mall; rather, save a life and adopt a pet! Whether you choose to visit North Shore Animal League and support the country’s largest ‘no kill shelter’ or want to just swing on by your local Humane Society and cover the cost of adoption ($75-$225) for dogs or cats. You will be saving a life and making someone very happy this holiday!

By Christine Capuano - Arizona Green Girl

On October 21, the first mandatory composting law went into effect in San Francisco, which is already a leader in the recycling field, with 72% of its waste escaping the landfill. The new law states that every residence and business in the city must have three (city-provided) color-coded bins for trash (blue for recycling, black for trash, and green for composting). If waste is not properly sorted, a fine can be imposed on the resident and/or business. The fine isn’t steep—$100 for most customers (anyone who generates less than a cubic yard of refuse a week), but enough leverage to allow people to push for this kind of progress. Employees or apartment-renters now have the law on their side when they request landlords to offer recycling options. And what happens to all this composted material? The scraps are trucked to a facility in Vacaville, where they are processed for 90 days. Then they are sold to farms, vineyards, and golf courses around the region. Widespread participation would put San Francisco well within reach of their goal of zero waste by 2020. Now this has made realize that homeowners/apartment-dwellers in LA have green bins as well—and yes!, we can put compostable food in them—but think of your green bin as vegan – only veggie, fruit, and grain scraps can go in. We can’t let SF have all the green fun – let’s start composting LA!

(Green) Food for Thought

There are so many aspects that go into “greening” your life —from transportation to recycling to solar power to what we choose to eat. That’s right, what we choose to eat. And it’s not as simple as boycotting your local fast food joints that don’t use environmentally sound practices — it turns out that the food choices we make everyday have a significant impact on the environment. 

One of the best ways to personally combat global warming is to start a “low carbon diet”. The global food system contributes about 1/3 of the world’s unnatural (as in, caused by us) greenhouse gases. This number adds up when you think of the transportation needed to ship foods, the clearing of forest areas to make room for grazing animals, agricultural practices that release nitrous oxide, and surprisingly, the vast quantities of methane gas that livestock produce.

So, the number one thing you can do is to eat LOCAL. Visit your area’s farmer’s market and stock up on fresh fruits, veggies and food that does not have to be shipped long distances —another huge advantage of this is that the food actually tastes better!  If you can’t make it to a farmer’s market, you can help by eating fruits and vegetables that are in season where you live. That way, your food won’t have more frequent flyer miles than you do. 

As a meat-eater (and cheese-lover) myself, the second step is a little harder, but doable.  Did you know that cows, sheep, and goats are ruminant animals? Because of their special digestive systems, they can convert otherwise unusable plant materials into nutritious food and fiber. Sounds helpful, but unfortunately, produces methane, which comes out as burps or farts — really. So, another helpful step on the way to a low carbon diet is to cut back on your consumption of beef and dairy. Vegetarians – you are already ahead of the game – woohoo! And what about chicken you may ask? Chicken is a-okay and not a methane-producing animal  (Though, I would encourage anyone to stand up to animal mistreatment and buy cage-free).

So there you are – two tips to get you started. And here is a handy, and fun, way to assess your food-related carbon footprint. Food management company, Bon Appétit, a leader in the large-scale sustainable food initiative, has created a carbon calculator to help you reduce that footprint of yours!

By Kim Sadler, Los Angeles, CA

Image courtesy of www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au

On October 24th, Green Guys Media and green LA girl will be droppin the smackdown on Santa Monica Beach. In conjunction with International Day of Climate Action, Siel of green LA girl and Sara Bayles of The Daily Ocean have organized an event called Blogger Beach Cleanup. It's going to be a rockin event, with tons of great peeps. Plus, you only need to clean up for 20 flippin minutes! How sweet is that! 20 minutes of eco-labor, and then you can go and brag to your friends about your tireless efforts of environmentalism. After the beach cleanup it's on to the food, drinks, and mingling. There will also be a prize given out for the blogger who brings out the most people. Now I don't want to be presumptuous, but I got a feeling that green LA girl is going to finally get a true taste of how deep the Green Guys roll. For all of the event details click on the image below.

By Erik Lingvall - Green Guys Los Angeles, Everywhere U.S.A.

Image source green LA girl