A Day In The Life: When Advocating for Green Is Easier Than Being Green
I was amused last week when I saw these tweets from a California conference. “Green is Mainstream.” “It’s not a differentiator.” “It’s just what everyone does.”
Really? Maybe I need another trip to California. (But of course, that wouldn’t be too green.)
For this month’s Green Moms’ Carnival, Beth of Fake Plastic Fish challenged the Green Moms to write about a “Day in the Life,” reflecting on the “green steps we take as well as the green challenges we face and the hard decisions we have to make.”
As luck would have it, I chose a day that ended up revealing a sad truth: sometimes it’s easier to advocate for green than to be green. Does that make me a hypocrite? Or does it just show how much more work we have to do before being green in Maryland is as easy as being green in California?
But back to my day….It was Wednesday, June 9th, cloudy and overcast, and threatening showers as I closed the front door. I was heading out to the Bethesda Green Incubator, where my business is located. I was on time (mindful that running late invariably results in taking the car instead of walking), ready for an easy 15 minute walk.
But I hesitated.
The sky was dark. What if it rained? I had my laptop, after all. I wouldn’t want that to get soaked, would I? I debated. I thought about Beth. I thought about the Carnival. I thought about water seeping through my bag, damaging my laptop. The minutes crept away. I was on the verge of being late. I took the car. It’s not a Hybrid. It consumes oil, the very kind that’s seeping into the Gulf.
At the Incubator, I walked out to our model-green reception area to meet Ariana Kelly, a Moms Rising advocate and candidate for the Maryland State House.
I told her the Bethesda Green story: how the community came together – business, government, and residents – to take on volunteer projects to make our community more sustainable. I pointed out the cork floors, the low VoC paints, the rain barrel displays, the permaculture exhibit, specimen seed library, and solar panels.
Then we walked across the street for lunch (so far, so good) and ate a lunch that assuredly was not sustainable. (After all, when it’s sustainably raised seafood they charge more for it and advertise it as such, don’t they?) At least our conversation was green. We talked about all that Maryland was doing with B Corp legislation and the BPA ban, and the Bethesda Green Business Delegation that met in Annapolis recently.
Then I ran out to retrieve my car, soon discovering the day’s first stroke of Bad Green Karma. A parking ticket.I should have walked. Not a drop of rain fell from the sky. And now I owed $40. My lunch had suddenly became quite expensive.
Later that afternoon, I picked Boo up from preschool, wincing as he carried some Pepperidge Farm goldfish in a plastic cup out the door. Every day, I dutifully packed reusable containers. Couldn’t they be used to pack up snacks?, I wondered. Must remember to bring that up to the teachers, I thought, as I dashed out the door to my car (yet again). After all, we had to hurry to make it to the CSA pick-up, and then on to the end-of-year Cub Scout picnic.
Soon, I stood at the CSA, hurriedly weighing the fresh-picked biodynamic and organic produce. Scallions? Check. Apples? Natch. Radishes, swiss chard, kale, fresh-baked bread, lettuce, they all went into my re-usable bag.
I heard Boo fussing, and asked him to be patient and wait for Mommy. I was in a hurry, after all, and there were four people behind me, waiting to use the scale.
Then I heard it.
CRASH.
Tiny bits of crushed Pepperidge Farm goldfish – all over the pristine garage floor of the CSA. Ev eryone froze, looked at Boo, and then looked at me. I sighed and said, “That’s what happens when you dare to bring Pepperidge Farm goldfish to a biodynamic CSA. God strikes you down.”
After the laughter died down, a broom appeared, everything was swept up, and we were off on our way to the picnic.
I was in such a hurry, I didn’t bother to check directions before I left the house. And my in-car navigator (Big Boy) wasn’t with me….he had left ahead of time with his friends and their Mom. So I overshot the park. Sat, idling (burning more of that fuel) in front of an apartment building 1 /4 mile from the turn-off for the park, frantically navigating my iPhone, trying to figure out where I was supposed to be.
(Maybe at this point I should mention my DH was on Day Seven of an extended business trip. The one where he gets to hang out in a castle by the Mediterranean Sea. And I was spent from playing Single Mom for a week).
Finally, we arrived at the picnic, eager to partake in the festivities. I frowned at the hot dogs and hamburgers, thinking of the heavy burden conventional farming techniques, especially those used to rear cattle and pork, place on our ecosystem. I helped myself to some salad, trying to ignore Boo’s pleas for a hotdog or hamburger, before finally giving in. Their father, the committed vegetarian, was out of town. And we so rarely had meat. They even had a grill! I ended up eating some myself.
But the bottled water? That was just beyond the pale. I hurried out to my car to retrieve my stainless steel water bottle. At least I had remembered that! When I returned, my friend smirked and asked me to look closely at the bottled water. They weren’t drinking water, she said.
I burst out laughing. Cub Scout parents surreptitiously drinking wine from empty water bottles? It brought back memories of alcohol snuck into parties when I was under-age. It was too funny. I had to have some! (Just on general principle!) But how? I only had my water bottle, and Boo needed some water. My not-so-green friend eyed me, amusedly. She knew exactly the calculation I was making.
“I’m not touching those plastic bottles!” I hissed.
I asked Boo if he wanted some more water.
“No, I’m fine,” he told me.
“Drink up, “ I urged. “There won’t be any more water.”
“I’M FINE!!!”
I dumped the rest of the water out of my re-usable water bottle and smiled contentedly as her husband filled it part way with the red wine. It wasn’t that good, actually, but it was the absurdity of the situation that made it worthwhile.
“Mama, can I have some more water?”
That’s when I gave up and opened one of those darn plastic water bottles.
(And made a mental note to see if we couldn’t procure some large water jugs for the next Cub Scout picnic.)
And decided that I had more than enough material for a decent “Day in the Life” post.
Easy to be green? Maybe in California. But not where I live.
What about you?
— Lynn
Copyright OrganicMania 2010
Do Dads Get a Bum Deal on Father’s Day?
“Just look at this!” DH exclaimed, gazing at the selection of grilling guides artfully arranged in the bookstore in anticipation of Father’s Day .
“You Moms get spa outings and retreats on Mother’s Day! Us Dads? We’re expected to fire up the grill. And now, we can’t even do that right! You Green Moms are telling us we have to learn how to grill green!”
I laughed, but then I reconsidered. Gee, I realized, school’s even out for Father’s Day. No artfully decorated gifts from the kiddos, carefully project-managed by the kids’ teachers. No, it’s all up to the kiddos and/or Mom to figure out how to commemorate Father’s Day.
What do you think? Do we need to reinvent how we celebrate Father’s Day? What are your traditions? And what are your favorite “green gifts” for a green Dad?
I may also update this old post about what Green Dads want for Father’s Day! If you want to be included, leave a comment below or @ me on Twitter @organicmania!
– Lynn
(Note: This is a reprint of a blog post from 2008. Figured it stood the test of time, so I’d re-spin it! What do you think?)
Finally, Beach Food Meets Its Match: Fruit Stands On (Near) The Board Walk?
Who doesn’t love the beach? I sure do.
The sun, the sand, the kids, the views….
But the snacks sold on the boardwalk do nothing for a beach body.
You know the drill.
Soda. Pizza. Ice Cream. Taffy. Chips.
So I was beyond excited over Memorial Day weekend when I spied this little stand set up a stone’s throw from the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk.
“It’s a trial,” the woman selling strawberries told me.
Determined to support that trial, I bought two cartons of the fresh, local Delaware-grown strawberries. (They weren’t even organic, and I still bought them!)
So this last weekend when I hit Rehoboth Avenue once again, I set out to look for my favorite beach fruit stand.
But sadly, it wasn’t there.
What gives? Worried that my one healthy “street food” choice was gone, I called the fruit stand’s owners, Fifer Orchards.
And I’ve got good news for all you fresh fruit fanatics: the stand will be back on the 4th of July, and hopefully most weekends thereafter till August.
What about you? Have you seen fruit stands near your favorite boardwalk before?
— Lynn
Copyright OrganicMania 2010
This Memorial Day, Remember Why We Celebrate Memorial Day
Thought you’d find another “keep it green” post here, huh? I’ve done that before.
But what I hadn’t done until recently is realize how few people actually take the time to truly commemorate Memorial Day.
Of course, every holiday is a bit like that. The religious complain that Christ has been left out of Christmas. Thanksgiving, for some, is just a prelude to “Black Friday.” And Memorial Day…well, it’s the official launch of summer.
The beach beckons.
Coolers must be filled.
Grills must be fired up.
But it’s also a time when veterans, and those who love and respect them, come together to honor the ultimate sacrifice – laying their lives on the line for this country.
Today, just steps from a busy boardwalk, I observed a sparsely attended ceremony honoring those who fought battles long ago…and the battles of today.
I wasn’t surprised to hear the Master Sargeant from Dover Air Force Base talking about receiving fallen soldiers from overseas, but I was a bit surprised to hear him talk about a time in the future, a time “when our youth are no longer asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.”
Too late to visit a wreath laying in your community? If you do nothing else, consider donating to the Memorial Day Donation Challenge from Paralyzed Veterans of America (donations are doubled up through today). And be sure to head on over to Twilight Earth to read this poignant post from DC green guy Adam Shake, a veteran of the war in Bosnia.
— Lynn
Copyright OrganicMania 2010
Partying Like It’s 1999
Despite the melancholy of my earlier post about Taking Stock prior to my college reunion, the fact is: I had a blast.
I danced the night away, closing down the first night’s party at 4 a.m., with a few of my sorority sisters and fraternity pals swirling around nearby.
Not bad for a gal who hasn’t stayed up that late in more than a decade!
I was so proud of that crazy accomplishment – I told everyone – and when Sigma Nu’s undisputed King of Late Night Partying anointed me “best dancer,” I beamed all weekend long.
Looking at the older reunion classes, I knew the day would come when staying up till 4 a.m. would be out of the question. The first 25 years, gone by so fast! Our 50th reunion will be here tomorrow. Better to dance now, while we can.
And the serious questions I mulled over in my earlier blog post? When they came up, they led to interesting discussions, just as they always do.
Even “the titans of industry” from my class reached out, offering great business advice when I asked their thoughts. One old pal invited me to meet him at the Capitol Hill Club, also known as the National Republican Club. I laughed, telling him that if I happened to see a Republican Senator there, I might just button hole him to talk about TSCA reform. And he smiled, saying, “That’s okay, Lynn Anne.”
That’s what old friends and reunions are for. Reconnecting. Reminiscing. Reflecting.
And partying like it’s 1999.
If you can go to your reunion, go.
Unfortunately, concerns left many of our classmates at home. As one high school classmate put it, “I heard the same excuses over and over again. I’ve gained weight. I got divorced. I was laid off. I’m bald.”
“Hey,” he laughed with a dismissive wave of his hand, “We all have!”
Or, as I put it, “Or at least, one out of the four!”
Life can be hard at times. But the party goes on. We’re still here, and that’s worth celebrating.
So go back to your reunion. And if you go, be sure to let me know what it was like!
— Lynn
Copyright OrganicMania 2010
Taking Stock
There are moments in life that cause us to stop. To think. To reflect. It can be a life altering event like a birth, a death, or a divorce. Or it can be something simpler, but in many ways just as profound: a meeting with old friends. A peek back at life the way it used to be.
This afternoon, I’ll leave my husband and two munchkins behind – (hope he’s remembering my Stay at Home Spouse Survival Tips!) – to attend my 25th college reunion at Lehigh University.
It’s hard to admit that the years have gone by so quickly, but it’s true. I still remember, as a young child, hearing the “old folks” around me say, “Life goes by quickly.” It didn’t seem possible then, but like so many things in life, only now do I know the elders were right.
Twenty five years ago, I was a scholarship kid, scared to death that I would lose my scholarship if I flunked Statistics or Advanced Calculus. (I never worked so hard for a D+ in my life!) I was worried about paying back my student loans – (I did so early) – and I wondered if I would ever meet the right guy. (It took 18 years of dating experience and a Strategic Plan to Meet a Man, but I finally did!)
I was so busy serving on a million class committees that sometimes it was hard to get my class work done (kind of like how this blog and my online activism with @GreenMoms interferes with biz dev work for my business). Some things never change!
I wanted to explore the world (22 countries down, 180 or so to go!), make some money (Nasdaq 5000, easy come, easy go), and live an interesting life.
I didn’t expect my life to now be so consumed by environmental concerns.
Online, my friends’ beliefs are well known. It’s easy to complain about the evils of bottled water with bloggy friends like Beth of Fake Plastic Fish or Diane of Big Green Purse.
In real life, it’s far trickier. Those big chemical companies fighting full reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act? They recruit from colleges like Lehigh, and from MBA programs like Georgetown’s. (Hoya Saxa!)
In “real life,” many of my oldest and dearest friends aren’t working for NGOs, showing up for Capitol Hill testimony, or demonstrating in the streets.
Instead, they’re working hard for those same companies we like to challenge in the green blogosphere. I know what it’s like. I’ve worked in marketing and PR for Fortune 500 firms.
They don’t want to question. They want to believe.
But I know from experience that face-to-face, those differences will melt away. I’ll smile with a skeptical twinkle in my eye, refer them to the EWG’s Skin Deep Database, and agree to provide some questions they can forward to their colleagues. I don’t want to put my friends on the spot. They’re my friends after all, and it’s a party.
And then I’ll think, and reflect, on all that’s changed in 25 years.
What about you?
— Lynn
Copyright OrganicMania 2010
Thinking Again About a Hybrid or Electric Car? You’re Not the Only One
It seems like an eternity ago that decisions to purchase hybrid and electric vehicles hinged mainly on considerations like fuel economy, the price at the pump, and the age and condition of your existing car.
The Gulf oil spill disaster changed all that.
Nothing in recent memory has so powerfully seared into our collective consciousness the need to reduce our dependence on oil.
Wildlife is dying.
The ocean is suffering.
Read this moving blog post by Larry Schweiger, President of The National Wildlife Federation.
Nothing will ever be the same again.
With this as the backdrop, I hate to confess, I have my own oil addiction. I don’t own a hybrid. One of our Subarus is eleven-years-old, and still in excellent condition. Our other Subaru is newer, and we bought it out of brand loyalty – the first one kept us safe after a deer crashed into our windshield when I was pregnant with Boo.
Subaru, when are you introducing hybrids or electric vehicles?
I’m in the market for a hybrid or electric car now. (Guess I should have really made the Volt test drive that Chevy invited me to!)
What about you?
This is a post for the Green Moms Carnival on Transportation, hosted by Big Green Purse.
— Lynn
Copyright OrganicMania 2010
A Wonderful Day: What to Say?
I hear that some bloggers complain about not having enough material for their blogs.
My problem is the opposite: it’s hard to know what to cover – there’s so much stuff going on!
Today was a perfect example:
– That incredible government report about environmental causes of cancer. The very same topic we’ve been tackling via Green Moms Carnivals! Yes, eat organic and avoid toxic household cleansers and personal care products!
– The re-opening of FRESHFARM Market by The White House. Where does the time ago? It was less than a year ago that the Market launched. Now it’s back, with more farmers and more food for everyone! Check out these pix of Chef Jose Andres with his giant paella!
– Oprah tackling #saferchemicals reform and overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act. Yes, really!
– Moms Rising naming the Mother of the Decade!
– And Green Moms Carnival being named one of the top ten most influential Moms groups online. This is no “green list.” This is top 10 out of ALL Moms. I love it! It shows we’re spreading our message out beyond the “green choir” and out to a more mainstream audience. It means we’re achieving our goal – …”increasing the likelihood that our eco-conscious messages will be heard, understood and adopted by more people.” You can check out the press release from Groupable here.
Now…if only Boo would recover fully and go back to “camp school” for the first day this week (tomorrow is Friday)…it would truly be a great week!
— Lynn
Disclosure: My company, 4GreenPs, was retained to help with the re-launch of the FRESHFARM Markets by The White House, which I blogged about here. There was no compensation for this post, I blogged this out of sheer excitement!
You Can Vote for the Future: Tonight Till Midnight EST
Friends, please take 2 minutes NOW (or before midnight EST) to go to
http://bit.ly/Vote4Green (a link to the White House website) and cast a “5” vote for EnvironmentalCharter High School in LA.
Why? The voting closes tonight at midnight EST and Environmental Charter High is the only “green” high school among the six finalists competing to win President Obama’s Commencement Challenge.
I’ve been privileged to get to know some of these students through my work with my client Green My Parents. They are incredible, amazing kids who are leaders in building a brighter, greener future for all of us.
Here’s how they tell the story (from White House site):
ECHS is alive. We’re blocks from the world’s most congested freeway, yet we step onto campus with fruit trees and a running stream of reclaimed water, which was once asphalt, and we know we’re in an environment designed to envision a better life. As freshmen evaluate community health, sophomores debate the sustainability of progress, juniors examine the American dream, and we ask, “How are we powerful?” In our urbanite amphitheatre, we showcase art, host composting workshops, and train freshmen for success at ECHS. We give tours and present solutions and best practices, so 98% of us feel comfortable public speaking. With more graduation requirements than schools nationally, we pack our schedules with AP and college courses and exceed service requirements. ECHS is challenging; but, we thrive – we’ve learned education is empowerment and graduation is a milestone on our journey to a better world. We are 68% Latino, 20% African-American, 78% low income. Arriving 2.5 grade levels behind peers in math and English, by graduation we outperform national averages. 92% of us were accepted into universities in 2009 and most are first in our families to attend. We’re prepared to redefine the American Dream, rewrite our futures and heal our planet.
Go. Now. Vote. Please:
Thank you so much.
(And obviously, if you’re on Twitter or Facebook, please spread the word – hurry!)
Lynn
The One Where I Call My DH a Nerd in Our Hometown Paper: The Washington Post!
Seriously, I did get his permission before sending the blog post off to education writer Valerie Straus at The Answer Sheet, billed as a “school survival guide for parents and everyone else.”
“How could I argue?” he laughed.
In addition to being very smart, my darling husband of 11 years is very funny!
It was all for a good reason – I was trying to point out that my husband and I are far from slackers in the education department, but we are apparently slacker parents when it comes to how some families handle the rigors of assessment testing in the second grade. (Or so we’re told).
Anyway, you can check out the post here. It’s called, “Who’s Afraid of the TerraNova 2 Test?”
Would love to get your thoughts!
And yes, for someone who cut her teeth at local newspapers, studied journalistic ethics under Nat Hentoff, and regretfully left the newspaper industry, this little post has me more than tickled pink!
— Lynn
Copyright OrganicMania 2010
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