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 ;-)

Congratulations, your actions do matter! Plus Simple Green-ness!

[It started (as many things do around here) with an infographic. ]

On the internet it's a go back and forth thing- Here are the steps YOU can take to save the planet vs. There's not a darn thing YOU as an individual can do to save the planet. Most of the time I'm in camp one - let's roll up our sleeves and get to work saving the planet!  Once in a while, I get too immersed in the news and camp 2 sneaks into my thinking.

And then there's my love of infographics- those friendly pics with graphs that tell you in a glance lots of stuff you need to know. So I am happy to share with you an infographic that Grist was happy to share with me.

The Grist Link, Sierra Club link, and the Northwest Earth Institute link

(Eventually, you may see someone post the Mesquite Hugger link, but don't hold your breath.)

I really like the Sierra Club link (above). It describes the creation of this study (and infographic). And it is ultimately practical - when people ask what they can do to stop climate climate change, here are some options you can offer them:

Personal choices to reduce your contribution to climate change

Low Impact
Upgrade light bulbs

Moderate Impact
Hang dry clothes
Recycle
Wash clothes in cold water
Replace typical car with a hybrid

High Impact
Eat a plant based diet
Switch electric-car to car-free
Buy green energy
Avoid one roundtrip transatlantic flight
Live car free
Have one fewer child

Feeling inspired to make any changes? There's a list. It's not an exhaustive list, but the actions are ones that are pretty easily measured and a great place to start.

And while we are on the subject...look at the list and see which ones fall in the live simply category. Are there any on the list that would cost you nothing? Whether you measure that in money or time, which ones just ask you to do something a simpler way?

For me, it all rolls back to that Personal Carbon Reduction thing and Spreading the Word. So I guess it's time to get back to living, writing  and talking about it. (And maybe I should write a little less about shiny things with wheels.) Our actions do, indeed, matter, so let's get out and do something worthwhile.

For me, it's time to hop on the not-so-shiny bike and make something of the day.

May your days be filled with better choices and may we all be richer for it.

Looking for a Trashy Valentine in Lubbock? Texas Tech can help!

Yep, it's that time again. The good people over at the Texas Tech Climate Science Center are having another Science by the Glass event, and this time it falls on Valentine's Day.

 

More info here: TTUCSC Science by the Glass

 

So, get your eco-friendly and/or alcohol-loving and/or alcohol-friendly-eco-loving friends/dates/co-workers/neighbors/closed-minded-enemies over to the Fox and the Hound at 82nd and Orlando next Tuesday (14 February 2017) to learn about something good happening right here in our own Lubbock.

 

I have seen a few presentations and displays from this group and can tell you that it will be informative and you'll learn some very cool stuff. (Did I mention that there's also a happy hour?)

 

Now, let's talk a little about Texas Tech Recycling.

 

Me, I am a big fan of the Texas Tech Recycle Center. Unlike the City of Lubbock's recycle program, Texas Tech accepts plastics grade 1-7, Styrofoam, and glass. You also don't need to sort everything - but they do appreciate it if you keep the glass separate for everyone's safety. They accept tin, aluminum, paper, packing material, and cardboard that has been broken down. On top of that, if your organization has lots of recycling, you can contact them and make arrangements to have them pick it up.

 

But there is much more to it than just recycling. The center also works to serve students and citizens of Lubbock by offering jobs and scholarships. They turn trash into all kinds of goodness!

 

 

Every other Thursday my family and co-workers pile their recyclables into the back of my truck and I haul them over to Tech.

 

The one and only recipient of the not-so-prestigious MHBTC award

 

But let's say that you don't work with an eco-dork (with a junky truck) like me but absolutely adore the idea of having someone swing by your place, pick up the recycling, and haul it over to Texas Tech for you. There are some really cool people in Lubbock who would love to help you out. Get in touch with Baron and Melissa over at 123 Recycling and they can make your recycling dreams come true!

 

In case you want to learn more but have other plans on Tuesday,

check out Recycle Easy in Lubbock! (TTU Recycling in pics).

 

May you learn all you need to know, have a good time, and help Lubbock to be less trashy!

 

PS. Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

Food-Is-Free Planter in 2016 (Pics!)

Alternate title: horticultural moron has amazing success with a youtube recycle project.

The planter was a late bloomer this year, but well worth the while!

Sweet! (peppers)

Arugula grows fast!

Arugula gone wild!

Don't let your arugula get this big - super bitter!

 Siletz and celebrity tomatoes love the planter!

The 5-gallon Instructable - still going well!

Basil flowers 

Holy roly poly!

The ill-fated attempt to drown our roly poly problem

Very few tomatoes until October

November 5!

November 17 (at night)

 

November 18

November 18 (harvested before the first freeze)

November 20 (after freeze)

11-25-16

May your recycle projects bear fruit and give you a reason for thanks in the coming year!

Awesome Lubbock Recycling Opportunity this Weekend (11-12-16)

Dear Lubbockites,

You know that Windows 98 machine you have languishing in the corner of your closet? How about the Game Boy that quit working and the TV with a screen that just wasn't flat enough to fit in our modern world? How about those little gadgets that were easier to replace than repair? Remember that PS1 with broken controllers on a shelf in the garage? Well, now it's time to get them out of your house and send them off to a better place. And Texas Tech Recycling (once again) is here to make it happen.

See the whole enchilada on GeekyEdge

 

Texas Tech Electronics Recycling Opportunity

 

The details:

 

Humanity needs all of us to quit trashing our home. This is one opportunity to do a little something right.

 

Sincerely and hopefully,

The Mesquite Hugger

 

May your stuff come back as something better in the next life!

 

PS. Thanks for the heads up, Double K!

PPS. If you miss this opportunity, Goodwill is also a local option for e-recycling.

PPPS. Watch the Story of Stuff already!

Low-hanging, Eco-friendly Fruit 3A: Just say no.

Sometimes we get caught up in the wrong thing.

Sing it, Jack

Yep, you've heard it a thousand times - Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle. Then everyone focuses on Recycle.

But we can do better. Let's focus on Reduce today.

How do you go about reducing?

There are two easy approaches - Just Say So, and Bring Your Own.

Before we get there, let's sidebar over to one of my favorite topics: Food. Alright, let's make a list. How about your top five favorite places to eat? (My list has me hanging out at a few local spots on 34th street.)

Okay, take a few seconds to savor the memory of all that good food. Mmmm...fooood!

Learn more here (or tune in for 3B)

Now, think about how that food is served. Is it on a plate? Is it in a carton? Ceramic? Paper? Steel? Glass? Plastic? Styrofoam? Is there a ketchup bottle on the table? Is it handed to you through a window? Restaurant food is one of those places where we can find a little more of that low-hanging, eco-friendly fruit.

  

The essence of Reduce

(This came from JustThink.org, which is no longer there.)

Just say no. (No, this is not a Nancy Reagan thing.) This one is pretty simple. Make a list of what you can say no to, and stick with it! (Any plastic thing you use only once is a bad thing.)

• Straws and Lids - If you have to have one, take your own, but do you really have to have one?
• Plastic Knives, Forks, and Spoons - again, take them with you - or go for the finger food.
• Extra napkins - just how messy do you plan to be?
• Bag - when you only buy two items, do you really need a bag?
• Condiments (salt, pepper, ketchup, etc.)

Learn more here

A green straw hanging out on some fake grass outside my office

Another way to just say no is to patronize places where they make it easy for you. Look for places that serve food on non-disposable dishes or places that offer incentives for making healthier choices. As you go through your day, look for ways that you can make an impact by just saying no.

What are you going to say no to?

May a two-letter word lead to a healthier world.

(As always, thank you for taking the time to read Mesquite Hugger!)

Low-Hanging, Eco-Helpful Fruit for Everyday Life (Intro)

Sometimes it's okay to say it again.

 

While I was preparing for last week's big event, I spent some time on the EPA website. (Yes, I know that I am weird, but I like spending time there. I learn a lot.) This time I ran across this graphic on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions:

 

EPA: Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

 

Yep, 56% of greenhouse gas emissions come from electricity generation and transportation. Holy moly! So, let's all scratch our heads and find someone to blame. Let's see...who in the US uses electricity? And who's out there using all that transportation? We need to find these people and have a serious talk!

 

EPA: Carbon Footprint Calculator Try it out!

 

So now for the serious talk, Self. Yes, we need to act on a bigger scale and look at businesses and governments and all kinds of big stuff. But we also need to take a look at ourselves. And ourselves are often pretty darned lazy when it comes to change. So, Selves, let's look at what we can easily do to make an impact.

 

What I am really trying to say here is that the next miniseries of posts will deal with very simple and low-cost ways for each of  us to shrink our carbon feetprints. These won't be the buy-an-electric-car-and-move-into-a-solar-powered-tiny-house-on-a-communal-organic-farm posts. These will be posts where we look at our light bulbs and our drafty windows and some of our consumer choices so that we can find better ways to go about our daily lives in an eco-friendly fashion.

 

While we're at it, I'll be highlighting some older posts where we already covered a few of these topics. For you followers on Twitter, please watch for the MH Rewind image:

 

 

As always, thank you for reading! May a little simplicity lead to a lot of improvement!

 

PS. Really - try the Carbon Footprint Calculator. It's amazing what you can learn!

World-Famous Scientist, LBK Experts, and a dork at the TTU Museum tomorrow!

One of these three people is speaking at the Texas Tech Museum tomorrow (10/16/2016) at 2pm: (And I am excited about it!)

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe and a couple of dorky guys

If you've never heard Dr. H speak, you could be in for a real treat tomorrow, but you have to get yourself over to the Texas Tech Museum (4th and Indiana). It's a bit ironic that Lubbock [where we work so desperately to convince ourselves that we have nothing to worry about or that there is nothing we can do about it] is home to one of the world's most respected and influential climate scientists.  

Dr. Hayhoe and her unsung colleagues at the Texas Tech Climate Sciences Center offer a clear voice of inspiration, wisdom, and hope in an area that offers lots of sound and fury but little else.

The whole event is in support of the Smithsonian/Chicago Museum of Science and Industry Green Revolution exhibit which is now on display at the museum.

All the info you need

Besides the speaker, the reason that I am excited about this event is that it is designed to offer encouragement and support to local people who want to lead greener lives. From 2:30-4 you can visit booths manned womaned peopled by local experts on a number of topics. You can meet the LP&L guy who is the Mother Teresa of LED lighting, you can meet the Tech Recycling people; you can meet our local authorities on xeriscaping, community gardening, water conservation, wind energy, solar power, and so much more. There's even going to be a dorky blogger there talking about electric vehicles and their ability to help us pollute vastly less while saving money and enjoying the ride! (He might also talk a lot about bicycles, give away a few {tiny} Teslas, and give away three self-promoting t-shirts.)

May the dorky blogger see you there and may we all find new ways to make our world a healthier place!

PS. Personal Carbon Reduction makes me so very happy!

A Green Revolution in Lubbock, Texas? Oh Yes! (Updated)

It's a lonely thing - being an eco blogger here in the LBK. (But it's getting better!)

Looking at the Mesquite Hugger blog stats, it's easy to see that the people who read it don't live around here unless they know and (hopefully) love me. It may be that it's a terrible blog and that it's poorly written and horribly unappealing, but I like to think that the subject  matter just doesn't appeal to the majority of Lubbockites. (Yeah, that's it!)

Remember this gem: It looks like we have to move away from Lubbock :-) ?

How about this one: Lubbock makes another green list,  %$#@! ?

Or maybe this one: Protected Bike Lane Infographic - Ah, Lubbock Bike Geek Happiness ?

 

Lubbock is just not a place known for its eco-friendliness.

I do have to admit, however, that there are signs of hope. Here and there you see local people addressing (and acknowledging) the issues surrounding climate change and our role in it. More people are choosing to ride a bike. Our town has also started embracing recycling and water conservation. There are sparks.

This week, I had a chance to see a Green Revolution very close to home. At the Texas Tech Museum, you too can see this Green Revolution on display:



The exhibit is up at the Texas Tech Museum!

For this lonely eco-blogger, it is an upcycled slice of Heaven. An exhibit aimed at helping real-world people find ways to green their everyday lives speaks my language. Really, as I walked around the installations, my smile widened and widened more: alternative energy, energy and water conservation, carbon reduction, recycling, upcycling, and bicycling! And I was seeing all of this here in Lubbock! Plus, there were real, live worms!

Vermicomposting! and Composting!

I love this idea, but I don't seem to be the best of worm farmers. I have, however, turned out to be a very successful composter.

Rain barrels and water conservation

 

Unlike the catastrophic worm composting experiment, I have been very successful in capturing rain water in my home-made rain barrel. (It's amazing how little rain it takes to fill up a 55-gallon barrel!)

Recycling!

You know I love me some recycling!

Neighborhood Beautification

Lubbock, you know we need this!

Personal Carbon Reduction!

You mean you don't view everyday life as a green challenge? I keep hoping my maker friends over at ULabs will create an Eco-Fit-Bitty type thing so we can all track our daily eco-friendly steps.

Neighborhood/Community Gardens (The Curious Garden)

Bicycling (I may have mentioned this topic a few times.)

 

Yep, it was downright amazing to see all of these displays right here in my own backyard. I am now feeling so much less lonely. There are people in the world who speak my eco-language! And they are spreading the word! [Sigh.] It feels good to be the Mesquite Hugger!

If you're still reading, you must be (a.) intrigued (b.) really bored, or (c.) you love me, you really love me! In case you fall in category (a.) or (c.), I have some exciting news for you.

 

 

On Sunday, October 16 from 2pm-4pm, there will be a Green Revolution event at the museum. The coolest part of the event will be a short talk from our own world-famous climate scientist, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe. If you have never had a chance to hear Dr. H speak, you are in for a very educational treat! After the talk, you will be invited to go around to different booths to speak to local experts (and a long-winded blogger) on a number of life-greening topics. You might even have a chance to win a (really tiny) Tesla Model S!

 

May you find local opportunities to learn and grow, and may that be a blessing to everyone.