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Reduce - The Important First "R!"

I admit that I get frustrated sometimes when people make a point of telling me they recycle. I don't want to but I do. So I take a deep breath, praise them, as recycling truly is a GREAT thing, and then try to gently slip in: don't forget - the first "R" is reduce. It's also a good time to remind myself how far I have to go in my journey to lead a more sustainable life and I mean "far."

Below is my no-brainer, "how- hard-can-this-be EASY Top Ten REDUCE" list.

1. Reduce your use of plastic bags - or better yet - ELIMINATE your use of plastic bags. How hard can this one be? Put yellow stickies on your head if you have to, but make sure the reusable bags make it back into your car or on your bike and use them. Just try counting how many plastic bags you see blowing on trees the next time you take a trip anywhere - even if only traveling one block.
2. Reduce your use of plastic beverage bottles - not hard, save LOTS of money, save the water used in production of them, the foreign oil it takes to make and transport them, and on and on and on. Downside? None.
3. Reduce your water use by turning it off when you brush your teeth.
4. Reduce your energy costs by turning off lights when you leave the room, lowering your thermostat in winter and raising it in summer, and turn your computer off when you leave the house. (Need help? Have an energy audit. Our local energy provider, TEP, has a gonga deal going.)  
5. Reduce the amount of meat you eat by having a meatless Monday...or Tuesday or whatever day. Can't go an entire day? Eliminate one meat meal. Tell me you can.
6. Reduce the amount of new clothing you buy by going to a used clothing store (like Goodwill) or setting up a clothing exchange with friends. They are getting more popular!
7. Reduce your intake of pesticides, insecticides and herbicides by committing to buying organic, pesticide free fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt or SOMETHING! Local farmer's markets a great start!
8. Reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals by being conscious of the myriad of products you mindlessly put on/in your body every day - shampoo, conditioner, soap, dry skin cream, toothpaste, sunscreen, make-up, lip gloss/lip moisteners. Try counting them someday.
9. Reduce the number of new books you buy either by supporting used book stores, setting up trades with friends, or downloading your favorites to your electronic device of choice. (OMG - I am a Bookmans fanatic!)
10. Reduce the amount of gas you use. I drive a VW TDI - clean burning and almost 40 MPG at this point. Carpool, get regular tune-ups, plan your errands to minimize miles, get junk out of your car because more weight uses more gas.

Reuse and recycle? A story for another day.

Gardening Tips for Your Reading Pleasure!

Root Pruning Containers are the latest break through for soil gardeners! Especially useful in hot climates, these fabric potting containers allow your root zone to breath. The increased levels of oxygen promote root growth, resulting in more healthy, fast growing plants.

-- Brought to you by Sea of Green  

Celebrate With Me - We Have ANOTHER New Sponsor!

I love to write about good news and having another wonderful new partner is something to shout about - always. Let's give a big, Mrs. Green warm welcome to Green Living Magazine! Green Living AZ is a first class print magazine with great, informative, fun content. And their online version is all that as well. In addition to their Features section, they have areas on how to live green, work green and play green. Gotta love it! They also have an active Facebook page and their team shares the mission and vision of the Mrs. Green team. Their content encourages us to live our conscious life. How can this new partnership do anything other than pump up the green volume and help exponentially increase spreading the good, green word? Please check them out, follow them and become a part of their community. Welcome!

Now About That Radio Network!
This story has really only just begun because you are going to be reading about the Mrs. Green's World radio network expansion very soon. Please remember, you can listen to Mrs. Green's World live show from anywhere you have Internet access - including your iPhone, Droid or Blackberry. We continue to bring you fun, informative guests from around the country and we bring our message to you in the most cutting edge way possible. You are only a click away every Saturday. (You can listen to  podcasts of past shows too.) Please to go Mrs. Green's World at 12:00 pm every Saturday and listen live. Be a part of the Mrs. Green ACTION tribe and spread the word. 

August 6

Ann Cooper: Renegade Lunch Lady

Ann's life's work? To transform how we feed our children in school each day, from highly processed to highly nourishing food - one school lunch at a time. Ann has formed a network of people throughout the United States and the world working to change the way our children are eating. They are challenging outdated school district spending policies, commodity-based food service organizations, political platforms that fail to mention child health and ultimately the USDA. Imagine - she wants our kids to have wholesome, nutritious, delicious food at school. OMG - another "I can't wait" for Mrs. Green. This show sponsored by The Fairfax Companies.  

August 13

Peter Dourlein - VP of Planning, Design & Construction, University of Arizona

This campus sustainability group has established the UA as a leader in designing and constructing buildings using strategies that reduce energy and water use and improve productivity and health benefits. We will hear from Peter about their impressive record as a leader and about EcoOps, a new UA-wide program of the Office of Sustainability that is open to employees, students, and alumni who want to help make the UA a more environmentally sustainable place to work, study and play.  Sounds like the PERFECT guest for Mrs. Green. This show sponsored by The Fairfax Companies.

August 20
Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff - Healthy Child Healthy World
Honestly? I am at the point in my life that I believe almost every disease in the world is linked to some kind of environmental contaminants. Endless research would back up this bold statement. Get ready for Rachel to share some of that evidence linking everyday environmental contaminants to asthma, learning disabilities, obesity, cancer and more. The good news? Healthy Child translates the science and inspires parents and caregivers to create healthy environments where families can flourish. This powerful organization has ignited the movement that empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals. My heart is soaring already. This show sponsored by The Fairfax Companies.

August 27

Andrew Kurth, Lauren Sheller, and Tiffany Hayes - Arizona Beef Council
I know where the beef IS. I want to know where it is coming from, what the cows are fed during their life time, how they are raised, and how they are killed. My journey as Mrs. Green has led me to find new meaning in the phrase "cruelty free." I admit to being a carnivore. I now eat less beef and I believe the beef industry can use some serious scrutiny. Hopefully, the folks from the Arizona Beef Council will have lots of answers. I know it will be an informative show.  

Mrs. Green's World GREEN TALK RADIO Show
Please remember to tune in to Mrs. Green's World every Saturday at 12:00 pm MST, live streaming on the Internet. 
 
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Mrs. Green welcomes your comments and feedback:
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