Comments for re:thinking green

Comment on the world is not enough by rethinkyourworld

rethinkyourworld — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:29:54 +0000

Mary, thanks for your comment. Congratulations on taking up composting! Food scraps are the number one most recyclable item in landfills – which is a ridiculous waste of nutrients and also contributes to methane gas buildup in landfills (cause of uncontrolled fires and greenhouse gas emissions).

So the first step to composting is to determine what you want to compost, and what you want to get from it. Consider the volume of material you expect to collect (yard debris tends to be bulkier, and therefore take up more space, than kitchen waste).

The basics include: minimum 3′ square area to create the pile, and some amount of turning the pile (with a pitch fork, shovel, or in a drum unit) to aerate.

One other option (for food waste only) is a NatureMill (www.naturemill.com) – this plugs in and works best in the garage (as it does emit odors if the scraps are unbalanced). The benefit is that you get useable compost within a few weeks on a regular basis, and it has an automatic 2-bin system. Knowing your garden, I think this might suit you well if you don’t want the hassel of an open-air bin in the yard. At most you might end up with a pile of finished compost waiting to be used (finished meaning not interesting to passing critters).

For more basic info and options, check this link http://vegweb.com/composting/systems.shtml – there are plenty more like it, so do a little browsing and see what you think. Let me know what you decide!

Comment on the world is not enough by Mary Gurski

Mary Gurski — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:19:48 +0000

You are absolutely correct regarding portion size and “if a little is good more must be better.”

A question: I would like to start composting but don’t know how to start. I have a small backyard area. Originally, I assumed I could just toss coffee grinds, egg shells, fruit/vegetable skins, etc. in the ground. However, I am afraid that might attract critters. What do you suggest?

Comment on Water – keep it clear and simple by rethinkyourworld

rethinkyourworld — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:34:35 +0000

Thanks for your comment – I agree that a whole lot of “environmentalism” is really just appreciating what we take for granted, and working to make sure it’s still there for us down the road.

Suzanne Drake Green Advisor cell:��415-373-7970 email:� suzanne@rethinkyourworld.com web:��www.rethinkyourworld.com blog:�� http://www.rethinkyourworld.wordpress.com twitter: GreenAdvisorSZD

Comment on Water – keep it clear and simple by Martin Zwilling

Martin Zwilling — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:20:46 +0000

Great post! We all need to be reminded from time to time that we shouldn’t take things for granted. Enough clear clean water is one of those things. You mention that most of it goes to agriculture, which is important, but I don’t think they need to spray it into the air and lose so much to evaporation. All that energy to collect it, and pump it around is wasted. We all have a long ways to go.

Comment on It’s Not All About You – part 5 of Living on Purpose by rethinkyourworld

rethinkyourworld — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:32:43 +0000

Of course my other favorite bridge is actually not a bridge but a bridge designer, Santiago Calatrava. Talk to you again soon!

Suzanne Drake Green Advisor cell: 415-373-7970 email: suzanne@rethinkyourworld.com web: www.rethinkyourworld.com blog: http://www.rethinkyourworld.wordpress.com twitter: GreenAdvisorSZD

Comment on It’s Not All About You – part 5 of Living on Purpose by FRQ

FRQ — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:01:55 +0000

SD, well your explanation is absolutely wonderful. In the near future I do hope to be able to spend an entire week (if possible) touring the GGB. It would be very hard for me not to walk the bridge from end to end and look at all the structural details of just every component of the bridge. This bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge are my favorite bridges. There are more exciting and more modern bridges all over the world but these two were designed using slide rules instead of very complex engineering software. A while ago I rented a documentary named “The Bridge”, I do highly recommend it. The documentary is related to a very disturbing subject and has nothing to do about the bridge.
By the way, I do enjoy your blogs. You are well read and very informative. Keep up the good work.

Comment on It’s Not All About You – part 5 of Living on Purpose by rethinkyourworld

rethinkyourworld — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:15:00 +0000

Fab! Thanks for replying… I really do think of you, and have been very lazy (obviously) in not actually sending a note or 2! � Why is the Golden Gate my favorite bridge? I love the color, especially when there’s some fog in the air, and I love the art-deco touches on the towers. I especially love looking at the bridge from the north side (coming back to the city from Sausalito or Tiburon) – there’s a tunnel you go through and as you come out you can just see the top of the north tower right behind a rocky hill – you get a better sense of how huge it is. When you’re driving across there is nothing to compare the size to (just fog) so it’s not as astounding. � I don’t believe there is anything particularly green about it… have you read William Gibson before? In one of his stories, which takes place in the near future the GGB has been abandoned to car traffic and taken over by squatters who build a ghetto all over the structure of the bridge, creating their own little lawless city… maybe I’ll have to find that one for you for your birthday next year!

Comment on It’s Not All About You – part 5 of Living on Purpose by FRQ

FRQ — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:46:25 +0000

SD, why is this your favority bridge?
Is it because the location? Engineering? Aesthetics? Green structure?

Comment on About by Mary Gurski

Mary Gurski — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:27:48 +0000

Actually, the comments are for your Blog!

Comment on About by Mary Gurski

Mary Gurski — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:26:58 +0000

This is a very provacative and thoughtful site. You have put forth many ideas to ponder but also ideas that are very practical. I look forward to reading more.

Continued success.