Camping is TOTALLY green!

Summertime brings sunshine and lots of outdoor fun! Camping is a personal fav and I am looking forward to my own trip later this year. Making your camping trip one that doesn't leave a footprint (carbon or otherwise) is not difficult - but just takes a bit of planning. Since any great camping trip takes planning, greening it up won't add any trouble at all! How great is that?!?!

Now I don't know how rugged you folks are, so I am just gonna throw out some basics......since not everyone camps in a tent and not everyone owns an RV. Little bit of something for all of ya!

First off - the clearest way to avoid leaving your mark at your campsite is proper trash disposal. Not only is it important to make sure every bit of your biodegradable dinnerware makes it into a trash bag, it's not a bad idea to use a greener bag itself. Stout is a popular brand that makes biodegradable bags in different sizes to fit your camping needs. They are also a great choice for home too! You can find them at many local retailers. NaturBag is a great website that offers tons of biodegradable products for all your green needs.

Mmmmmmm......s'mores.....let's get the campfire started! Rain or shine, sleet or hail, well...maybe not the last two. But, The Maine Flame has developed an awesome little started made from sawdust from sustainable forests and wax. Don't let it's cute little tree shape fool you - this little thing burns for 20 minutes, which gives you plenty of time to get that fire blazing!

EcoFlame also has a variety of ignition items to suit your every firestarting need. One of my favorites is their cooking kit. It is labled as 'emergency' but will cook up your grub to perfection in any non-emergent situation as well. Don't think that this nifty little product is too pricey to be a part of your festivities - I found it for $11 online! It's a great alternative if you don't have time to get a full fire-a-blazin' before heading out on some daytime adventures.

If you are planning on bringing pots, pans, and reusable utensils and dishes (awesome choice, I might add), you will need some soap to clean them with after each of your gourmet meals. Then take the rest home for the long haul! I have used Seventh Generation products for years and LOVE them. They are affordable, natural, and I can find them locally, which is a bonus. They have an array of goods - so pop on over to their site to see them all!

There are more items than I could possibly list here to help make your camping excursion a little more green. Check my older posts for some additional ideas that are applicable to camping too! Hopefully this will help you get started and spark some new ideas. Don't forget the marshmallows!

See you on the trails,
GB

Here comes the sun!

It is a beautiful day outside! Hopefully, the same goes for your neck of the woods....I took advantage of the sunshine and local trails and hopped on my bike for an afternoon ride. Any of you who appreciate a sunny day know the importance of protecting your skin from those harmful UV rays. The tricky part is finding something natural that won't introduce toxins into your skin, but will still meet your protection needs!


Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US. It has become an increasing problem with the trend of indoor tanning salons. Protecting yourself is the best way to reduce your risk! Some shocking stats from the Skin Cancer Foundation will hopefully encourage you to lather up next time you are going to be catching some rays:

*One or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence more than double a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life.

*A person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns at any age.

*Frequent tanners using new high-pressure sunlamps may receive as much as 12 times the annual UVA dose compared to the dose they receive from sun exposure.

*Indoor ultraviolet (UV) tanners are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors

So how can you protect yourself from the giant cancerous fireball in the sky??? Well, lucky for you, there are some great eco-friendly skin shields ready for such a task! The Environmental Working Group has compiled a great list of the best of the best lotions. But here are a few of my personal favorites:

First, there is Reef Safe Biodegradable Sun Care, a great line of products that is non-toxic to ocean creatures as well as yourself!


What's ferocious and can take on the sun's fury??? That'd be a Badger. Yes....the Badger Company has some of the top rated UV mineral-based protectants out there. A huge bonus - they are ALSO biodegradable and thus, don't harm our fishy friends. Badger also rocked it out on The EWG's list! But, I'm not surprised.....it is a badger, after all.

Or if you are feeling really adventurous you can always make your own, with the help of Sophie Uliano of Gorgeously Green. Check out her super easy instructions, with video here.

So, if you are like me, I still like to get some color during the summer months. Michigan has made me quite ghostly in the off-season and I have come to rely on self tanners to keep some hint of color and not be mistaken for an out-of-work extra from Twilight.

A couple of nice options that are au naturale are from the folks over at Lavera. They have a slew of endorsements, one of which is from our friend, Sophie (sunscreen recipe)! They have gels and lotions, one even formulated for the delicate skin on your face.

Another alternative is Nature's Gate Sunless Tanner. This product also boasts no parabens, phthalates, or animal-derived ingredients.

And not to be outdone by the sunscreen lovers, Debra Lynn Dadd, proclaimed the “Queen of Green” by the New York Times has come up with a great DIY sunless tanner. Seems easy enough! Give it a shot:

3/4 cup water
3 tea bags
1/4 cup lanolin
1/4 cup sesame seed oil

Boil the water and brew a strong tea. Pour 1/4 cup tea into a blender with the other ingredients and blend at a low speed. Slowly add the rest of the tea while blending. Test out your results on a small, not usually visible spot on your body. Use sparingly.

I hope I have offered you some new info on the great items out there that can make UV protection a little easier. In addition to all of the products mentioned here, EWG offers a database that will help you rate the hazard level of commonly used products and brands found in your home. They have ranked over 65,000 products, so chances are - the products you use are included. So, go ahead, take a look.....what you find may surprise you! It may also help you decide on a better alternative to keep yourself healthy and happy!

Happy trails and SPF,
GB

Back from hiatus!

Wow, I can't believe it has actually been 2.5 years since I've posted. That's just a shame! Anyways, my excuse is as follows: I was super mega crazy busy following my personal dream to become an nurse anesthetist. I am now finishing up my final 11 months and have a few days to myself here and there, so I really wanted to rejoin the blogging masses :)

Since being super broke thanks to independently funding the exorbitant cost of a graduate education (and deciding whether to relocate following graduation), real estate browsing has been a fun pastime......so to re-enter the eco-blog, I figured the ultimate green house would be appropriate. Hopefully you all got a chance to enter! I am banking on winning this bad boy so then I won't actually have to decide where I want to practice - it'll be done for me ;)


HGTV also has a great link for some great eco-gifts you can send as a housewarming....wink wink, nod nod....ooooor, to anyone else for that matter! They are great ideas for all of those hospitable people having you over for summer BBQs and bonfires, as well! I'm happy to be back, so stay tuned for more regular and green postings!

Stay Green!
GB