Earth Day 2024, Lubbock: Let's Talk Plastics & Recycling (and a spoon)

 The theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet versus Plastic. And it is a significant and worthy theme for a year where we've become immensely more aware of how pervasive plastic pollution has become in our oceans, our foods, and even our bodies. It's also a year when another study has revealed how deeply we've been led astray with our hopes in plastic recycling.

My favorite infographic ever - Find it here.

Let's get practical and to the point. Plastic recycling is not a viable approach as a long-term solution. Plastic is deeply embedded in almost everything we produce and consume. Continuing to rely heavily on plastic will continue to make the environment in which we live more toxic and will make it continually harder for humans to live.

Please take a minute, look around you, and see what in your immediate surroundings contains plastic. (It can be a little overwhelming.)

Now, look over that list and see where you could use another (more sustainable) material/item.

Our spoon infographic is a great place to start. We already have a plethora of non-plastic spoons in the world. How can we move forward with our existing spoons? For starters, you can carry one with you. Then you can refuse the plastic spoon you'll be offered with your next meal or beverage. Or you can take it further. You can seek out places that will offer you a non-plastic spoon to use. You can use it and leave it behind for them to wash and serve to another customer.

Is this a sustainable solution? Yes, but it has to become consistent and widespread. So teach/encourage  your children, your parents, your friends, your co-workers, and even the well-meaning people who try to give you a plastic spoon to try a similar approach.

And explain why you're doing it.

Be specific in telling them why. To get personal, I started Mesquite Hugger because I love nature and wanted to promote a healthy environment; however, I consider people to be part of that environment. So, I can look people in the eye and truthfully tell them I carry my own spoon (or whatever thing I'm encouraging) because I love people and want them to thrive.

For some reason, it's a lot easier to argue with a tree hugger than it is with a people hugger. I guess it's because we have a lot more in common with people than trees. 

To be truthful, I hug a whole lot more people than I do mesquite trees. If you're reading this, I love you more than any tree. Period. That's it. So, try to cut back on plastic. It's killing us!

A few more places to you can start:

• Carry your own: cup, grocery bag, water bottle, etc.
• Recycle plastic yourself! If you have a toaster oven or heat press, you can recycle #2 plastic at home - but please be careful (and share pics of your success)
• Buy recycled products!

PS. Recycled toilet paper is not recycled toilet paper. It's regular paper recycled into toilet paper. (People get grossed out when I encourage them to purchase recycled toilet paper.)

PPS. Please continue to recycle items like paper, cardboard, tin metal, and aluminum. Let's keep using what we have in the system rather than digging up more minerals or cutting down more trees.

As always, thanks for stopping by! Please know that I am praying for you to be well and better!

(and give yourself a hug from me ;-)

The Writing's on the E-Wall: Personal Health = Eco-Health

I keep finding myself in doctors' offices with my family. We're mostly in the UMC system, so each office has the same electronic reader board that displays a new e-poster every thirty seconds or so. It's smart. We are an A-D-D culture trapped in a tiny room. The scrolling images help us not to go bonkers and give us lots of great health advice that we wouldn't sit still for anywhere else.

Apple, heart, lifestyle changes

Besides the A-D-D thing, I've always been a compulsive reader. If there's a printed word, I can't resist. It's astounding how many cereal boxes I've read as I sat there munching sugar-coated goodness.

So, as we sit waiting for doctors, I have no choice. I have to read. Really - I absolutely have to!

Scale, apple, shoe

What I've come to notice is that the health posters keep telling us the same things to help us live a healthy life:

• Eat better food
• Exercise
• Lose weight
• Lower your stress
• Avoid inhaling smoke

Woohoo! This one even has a pic of a bike!

Those messages play over and over. It's amazing how many times I've seen them without making this one simple connection - all of the eco-health-save-the-planet-climate-strike messages I read just as voraciously say the same thing.

Eat Better

• less and cleaner meat
• more locally-grown, chemical free veggies
• less processed foods
• less processed sugar (There goes my cereal box!)
• less food served in plastic, stryrofoam, and cardboard

Exercise, Be more Active, Lose Weight

• utilize people-powered transportation as much as possible (biking, walking, etc.)
• use stairs
• ride a bike
• get outside
• ride a bike
• garden
• ride a bike
• turn off the TV, phone, computer, tablet
• ride a bike
• get off your butt and on your feet
• ride a bike

(all about the boodie)

Lower Your Stress

• drive less
• sleep better/more
• turn off the electronics
• exercise
• eat better
• spend time with good people

Avoid Inhaling Smoke

• from tobacco
• from vaping
• from tailpipes (cars, trucks, lawn equipment, generators, boats, motorbikes, etc.)
• from coal power
• from natural gas
• from clearing forests

So, there you have it - save yourself and get the added bonus of saving the planet. Not a bad deal at all!

I pray that you are well and getting better. Thanks for reading, friends!

Earth Day 2019 - A few simple suggestions

It's just not an MH Earth Day post without Pogo

Spring, Resurrection, Earth Day

It's a great season for new beginnings.

Nothing fancy here, but I want to offer a few areas where you can change for the better and encourage others to do the same.

A great place to start

Burn less gas:

My favorite way to do this is to ride a bike, but there are a lot of ways to cut back on your consumption: carpool, plan your routes and trips better, drive less aggressively, walk more, shop or eat closer to home, take your lunch to work, maintain your vehicle better, use public transportation. As much as I love the prospect of cars that don't burn gas, you don't have to buy a new Leaf to turn over a new leaf.

Choose re-usable over disposable:

cups, bags, utensils, jars, straws, handkerchiefs, mason jars, kitchen rags, napkins

Show some love to a natural place:

My hope for this evening is to head to my favorite local wild place with the stuff needed to pick up trash, recyclables, and manmade stuff that just doesn't belong in a wild place. It's been a breeze-trashy winter and it's time to undo some of the damage.

Use less plastic:

There're lots of ways to go about this: re-usables (mentioned above), being more conscious of packaging when you're buying groceries, invest in quality utensils/dishes that will last longer than plastic, choose restaurants that serve in real dishes and cups; say no to straws, lids, and single-use plasticware.

Bring home less crap:

Chotchkies, swag, knick-knacks, collectables, figurines, novelties, promotional items - all that useless stuff that ends up on a shelf, in a drawer, or in the garbage - think before you bring it home. Less stuff means less stuff to worry with!

Seek out simpler recreation:

A friend was telling me yesterday about some birds nesting in his family's backyard, and how it's transformed his time with his wife - every chance they get they're out in the backyard with binoculars. Last night, our family went for a bike ride followed by a stroll with the dogs. Yes, I admit that I'm getting old and boring, but we find more and more time that requires little in the way of earth-harming resources and supplies us with a great deal more health and joy.

To be fair, if you do everything on this list, you will make very little contribution to making the world a heathier place, but you will help in creating momentum, and if you share your successes, you'll encourage others.

If you want to make a bigger impact:

Encourage others to live cleaner, support organizations that work for bigger change, and encourage your local politicians to vote and live cleaner. Here are a few organizations to check out if you're looking for a place to start.

Click here

Click here

Click here

Click here

Earth Day 2018 tomorrow and plants today!

It always sneaks up on me, so I wanted to give you a little warning:

Earth Day is tomorrow - celebrate everyone's Mother's day by being good to mother earth!

The Lubbock Arboretum's annual plant sale is happening today. 

Go get some Lubbock-tolerant plants and help support the people who work so hard to keep us green!

May you choose to live cleaner, regardless of what your neighbors think!

Celebrate Earth Day, Lubbock!

In case you have not heard about it, there is a Stand up for Science Rally and Health Fair today at the LHUCA from 1-3pm. Lots of cool stuff will be happening: live music, information booths, and there will be three speakers. You can learn a great deal about living healthier, helping the entire planet to live healthier, and about getting involved in supporting those who are working hard at creating a healthier world. Some of my favorite local organizations will be there. Be sure to stop by the Citizen's Climate Lobby table and check out all the cool stuff at the Texas Tech Recycling booth.

May we strive to know what is happening around us and work to create healthier solutions for all.

Earth Day Suggestions: #2 Get Down and Dirty

[Alternate title: Save the planet, save money, grow veggies, possibly have worms!]

This shirt helps me with my self-image issues.

Unlike yesterday's suggestion, this one is all about the dirt. But (and this is a big but) there are no car salesmen involved.

For me, Earth Day is about a few big things - tackling climate change, cleaning up the mess we've made, and finding ways not to make such a big mess for the future. Today's topic deals with all three and it's about making a little mess to drastically reduce some bigger messes.

It's all about COMPOST!

In the past, I did a little composting here and there, but last year I was blessed with a big wooden box that helped me kick up the composting in a fairly big way. (And I now have a Mediterranean gecko preserve in a box in the backyard too. Win-Win!)

The first thing you need to know about composting - it's cheap and easy! This may sound simplistic, but composting is just throwing a loosely balanced bunch of trash together, stirring it up occasionally, and ending up with a bunch of free fertilizer.

Why should you do it?

You can easily cut down your household garbage production by 1/3. You can cut down on greenhouse gas production in your local landfill and you can lessen the need for more landfills. You can save $ on fertilizer (or you can donate it to someone who will use it - like a neighborhood garden or grub farm). It could be your opportunity to finally have 1000's of worms as pets - if you decide to try vermicomposting.

Want to learn more?

Check out this infographic from a 2011 Treehugger article. (Good composting is timeless!) (Separated for easier viewing)

 

 

 

 

 

May we conquer our problems one food scrap at a time!

 

PS. For those of you who are all about the worms, Uncle Jim is having an Earth Day sale (for you big spenders).

 

Earth Day Suggestions: #1 Burn some electrons!

One of my favorite holiday-ish days is this Friday (April 22). This is Earth Day #46. If I were a more ambitious blogger, I'd work on 46 suggestions. Being me and not being ready to quit my day job and all of that, I am shooting for 4.6 suggestions.

Number one is actually fun, and you won't get dirt under your fingernails, and it takes very little commitment on your part, and no money is needed.

Go test drive an electric car.

A Leaf and Charger at McGavock (Love the blue)

Why? Because you are human. Because the best way to learn about something is to experience it with multiple senses. A few weeks back I had the opportunity to take people for rides in an electric car. It was great to see how surprised they were. I am not sure what they expected, but the car far exceeded everyone's expectations. You should test drive one so that you know what it is, so that you can see whether or not an electric car makes sense for you or anyone around you. You may be surprised too.

What does test driving a new car have to do with Earth Day? If you are like most West Texans, you are a car addict. (I know I am.) That means we are all addicted to burning fossil fuels, which also means we are directly responsible for creating a type of pollution that damages the air, damages our lungs, damages our water, and damages our soil. Electric cars offer us a way to maintain our car-based lifestyles without doing nearly so much damage. (And there's a good chance that you will save a lot of money in the process.)

Original Poster from 1970 Earth Day

A few things to keep in mind before you go:

• If you buy a new (completely) electric car, you are eligible for a $7500 income tax break next April. (Whoohoo!)
• Your fuel costs will be about one-fourth of what you are currently spending.
• Electric cars are a phenomenal choice for multi-car families.
• There's a good chance that your salesman will know less than you do about the car.
• There's also a good chance that your salesman will try to steer you away to a gas-powered car.
• There's a good chance that you will experience the EV grin. Electric Vehicles have that effect on people.

There may be others, but I know that there are currently two new electric cars for sale in the LBK. McGavock Nissan (6312 Milwaukee Avenue) has a dark blue Nissan Leaf and Reagor Dykes Mitsubishi (6540 82nd Street) has a pearl white Mitsubishi MiEV.

Mitsubishi at Reagor Dykes

If you go drive either, please do me two favors: tell them the Mesquite Hugger sent you, and please send me a pic (mesquitehugger@gmail.com).

May you be pleasantly surprised and may we all be one step closer to breathing easier.

PS. If you're not quite so hardcore but want to make strides, Gene Messer Ford has a black Ford Fusion Energi (plug-in hybrid) and Gene Messer Chevrolet has a silver 2015 Chevy Volt (plug-in hybrid).

Find many more Mesquite Hugger electric car posts here.

Mesquite Hugger Disclaimer 2: Solar/Wind Power vs Energy Conservation

[Earth Day is just 4 days away!]

 

Yep, you know me. I'm an eco-dreamer. One of my struggles with going green is how snagging expensive it can be, especially if you follow popular media and conventional wisdom. If you pay much attention, you quickly develop a high-dollar list of must haves in order to go green:

• solar panels
• electric car
• high-efficiency appliances
• rain collection system
• organic food
• so forth
• so on

It's pretty easy to see that I bought in - at least figuratively. My finance manager, however, did not buy in. My finance manager believes that you should not spend money you don't have. (We argue a lot.)

So, the Mesquite Hugger home does not have solar panels mounted to the roof or a wind generator spinning away in the yard. But I have done a lot of reading in preparation.

Home Energy Saver Calculator

The first two things people do to prepare for going solar is assess their home and clean up their act. The more energy efficient you can make your home, the smaller your solar setup needs are, and that means less money out of your pocket.

So, where do you start?

Electricity

 

One of my favorite electricity tools - simple and inexpensive

This one is multifaceted and can have a huge impact. It can be as simple as working to reduce energy use in rooms you are not in (no lights left on, close a/c and heater vents, eliminate phantom power losses) or measuring power usage of the electric devices you have (Switch to LED bulbs already!!!) or finding ways to not use your electric devices (Hanging your laundry up to completely or partially dry can drastically reduce electricity usage).

20 Things You Can Do to Conserve Energy

Air leaks

Doors, windows, vents, even light switches - these can all contribute to air loss in your home. Sure, it would be great to have someone come over and replace them all, but most air leaks can be dealt with using much less intense and expensive approaches, and many of them can be done by a less expensive technician - you.

US Department of Energy - Tips: Sealing Air Leaks at Home

Insulation

Similar to dealing with air leaks, adding insulation to your home can be a great way to conserve resources and make your house more comfortable all year round.

A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Sealing and Insulating with Energy Star

 

Looking through these on-line resources, you can see that there are lots of projects you can tackle yourself with very little time, money, and skill. Small efforts can make big payoffs when it comes to making your home (or workplace) more energy efficient.

 

May you find a path to green conservation and money conservation with no financing involved!

A Little Green List for St. Pat's 2016

Nothing native here grows without thorns

 

You have to know that the Mesquite Hugger staff loves any day where going green is a requirement (if you want to avoid the dreaded pinch.)

 

St. Patrick wants you - to go green!

 

In honour of the patron saint of Ireland, why not pick one green step to make before the wekend ends?

 

• Replace one car trip with a walk, a bike ride, or (at the very least) a car pool.
• Recycle or upcycle something headed for the trash.
• Plant something.
• Replace an incandescent bulb with an LED.
• Take a reusable cup when you go to a place that serves in disposable cups.
• Build a rain barrel
• Build a composter
• Hang a load of clothes up to dry
• Join the CCL.
• Plan for Earth Day
• Test drive an electric car
• Tune up your bike.
• Avoid meat for a day or (at least) a meal
• Go a day without buying anything
• Turn off the TV/computer/cell phone and do one productive thing in that time
• Pick your own green thing to do! 

 

Everyone can use a little St. Patty humour!

 

May the luck of the Irish be yours when it comes to healthier choices!

 

PS - Let us know what you picked!

 

 



Lubbock Local Wildlife: Earth Day, Drought, Clapp Park

Earth Day is fast approaching. April 22. This will be Earth Day's 45th anniversary, so Earth Day and I are close to the same age. This year I have wanted to do something more significant to honor the day. The old brain casted about for the right thing, and then I ran across this article:

Earth Day Pond Cleanup

And Clapp Park came to mind. I love Clapp Park. I love that such a wild and often beautiful place is a two-minute bike ride from my house. (I love Mae Simmons and Aztlán Parks in the same way, but they require a lot more pedaling.) I decided to spend a few hours picking up trash at Clapp to mark and celebrate Earth Day. I am going for the old Think Globally, Act Locally idea this year.

Wednesday was a rough day - lots of rough news about people around us. Sasha and I found ourselves with a shared restlessness, so we decided to walk around Clapp on an Earth-Day scouting run. (Note to self: never go to Clapp without a real camera, the vaguely intelligent phone just does not do it justice.)

We saw lots of cool things and apparently smelled even more. We saw some nice raised-bed gardens inside the arboretum fence. We saw evidence that someone has been using tree branches to lay out protected areas for butterfly gardens and other small nature refuges. We also saw that someone had been working at clearing trash.

On a less positive front, we saw that the two ponds had dried up to almost nothing. We saw lots of trash. Lots of trash. The two remaining spots of water were teeming with overcrowded life - turtles, frogs, fish, and opportunistic birds.

With man-made trash and drought, the place has become a bittersweet place for me, but one worth working for. So, what are your plans for Earth Day?

May every day be Earth Day, and may you be one of those who keep it going.

Spring Dates for Lubbock, Earth Day, Arbor Day, Rain Barrels, Local Food, and Bicyclists

Sure, it's a lazy post, but there are some great spring events listed here!

March 28, 2015
Lubbock Preparedness Fair - The annual fair is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7014 Frankford Ave.
http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2015-03-24/preparedness-fair-provide-emergency-readiness-help

April 22, 2015 (Wednesday)
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION Stop by the Garden & Arts Center and make some earth-friendly crafts and an Earth day pin!
All day and free!
http://www.mylubbock.us/docs/default-source/parks-rec-file-library/activity-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=8

April 22, 2015 (Wednesday)
CitiBus Ride Free Day! (to celebreate Earth Day)
http://www.mylubbock.us/docs/default-source/parks-rec-file-library/activity-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=8

April 24, 2015 (Friday)
National Arbor Day
https://www.arborday.org/celebrate/

April 25, 2015 (Saturday)
ARBORETUM PLANT SALE Annual plant sale to benefit the Arboretum and its ongoing projects. Sale features water-wise perennials, herbs and specialty plants that grow well in Lubbock. Experts on hand to answer your questions. Adults and families welcome. (6 hrs)
9am-3pm
http://www.mylubbock.us/docs/default-source/parks-rec-file-library/activity-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=8

May 1, 2015 (Friday)
The National Bike Challenge begins!!! (Woohoo!)
Learn more and sign up at https://nationalbikechallenge.org/

May 2, 2015 (Saturday)
RAIN WATER HARVESTING WORKSHOP Learn the bascis of rain water harvesting in this informative workshop! One re- cycled 50 gallon rainbarrel is included with each workshop registration. Barrels may also be purchased separately for $60 each. Call 797-4520 to register or to reserve barrels for pick up between 1 PM - 3 PM. (2 hrs)
Lubbock Memorial Arboretum
http://www.mylubbock.us/docs/default-source/parks-rec-file-library/activity-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=8

May 11-15, 2015 (Saturday)
Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day (May 15)
Learn more at http://bikeleague.org/content/bike-month-dates-events-0
(May is also National Bike Month.)

June 20, 2015 (Saturday)
Lubbock Downtown Farmer's Market Opening Day
http://lubbockdowntownfarmersmarket.com/file/Lubbock-Downtown-Farmers-Market-Schedule-2014.jpg

May you thrive in creating a healthier you and a healthier world!

A (Very) Little Bit More Arbor Day and a Lubbock Local Business

Purple means Crabapple! Orange and Blue mean Snagit, I hope leaves pop out!

Since I posted yesterday about Arbor Day, I went home and snapped a pic of the tiny tree that is sporting leaves. Woohoo!

In the mail yesterday came a flyer from Mountain Hideaway, a great locally-owned business that promotes conservation and looking really good in the wilderness - even if the wilderness is the urban jungle. Well, it turns out that they are having a big sale on Arbor Day weekend and they are giving out free Arbor Day t-shirts and are having sign-ups to win a free tree! Be sure to tell them the Mesquite Hugger sent you!

May you get free stuff AND plant a tree or thirty!

Bonus Link for the Day:

A Little Animated Johnny Appleseed