My long-time friend, nutritionist and guest blogger, Greg, has moved to CO. Here’s his latest update!

It’s been 7 weeks since landing in Glenwood Springs, CO, my new home in the Rocky Mountains and being car-free could not be any easier.

With free local bus service that runs every day and great bike lanes, I am impressed. I commute to work by bike and take the bus on rainy or on the soon to be cold winter days. Many people use the bus and more and more are jumping on board. The buses run every 30 minutes and start at 6am and finish at 9pm.
If you want to access the nearby towns of Carbondale, Rifle, Basalt, Snowmass and Aspen, pay a small fee of $2-$6 and sit back, enjoy the scenery and relax. Aspen is 40 miles north of Glenwood Springs and the buses that run between the various towns keep running until 1am. (WOW!)

Some of the buses accommodate bikes and I took advantage of this a few weeks ago by riding to Aspen and riding home on the Rio Grande Trail, a 40 mile pedestrian/bike trail that follows the Roaring Fork River. It’s nearly all paved, with a small section of hard pack dirt for about 5 miles. It’s a beautiful trail and that’s not all. The Glenwood Canyon Trail goes for 15 miles through the Glenwood Canyon, following the Colorado River.

I rode that one last month for a beautiful 30 mile round trip.

Add the hiking trails that start right in town and this place is a gem.

The Boy Scout trails starts on the 8th street, three blocks from my house. It gains 2700 feet in three miles, going from 5700 feet to Lookout Tower, 8400 feet. From there, the Boy Scout trail splits into two other trails that journey on for many more miles.

To top it off, the Amtrak station is right downtown and it is staying busy. One day, I will jump aboard and go on down the line to Denver, for a 5 hour majestic trip through the Rockies.

Go Car-FREE-DOM!

Peace, Greg

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

At least some of us have been at this green business for a long time. The rest of us could use all the help we can get. And, it’s that time of year again - when we’re programmed to buy more stuff. What really is the bottom line to sustainable consumerism? Well, as we all know, the greenest products are the ones you don’t buy. So, don’t buy what you don’t need and give lots of thought to what you do need and buy to last.

While we’re at it, think relationship in all that you do and acquire, because it will build meaning and purpose back into our lives. Oh, yes, it will make the world more fair, more kind and more sustainable - in some cases, it’s this simple.

But, there’s a lot of information even well-intentioned consumers still need. Fortunately, it’s available from many sources. One of the purchases I needed to make recently were laptop batteries and charger. And with just a tiny bit of attention and effort, I found the GreenPeace Guide to Greener Electronics. I was able to compare electronic companies and products regarding both use of chemicals and recycling programs. The entire site is really helpful and answers all the questions that had already begun to form in my head, like these.

This Guide was established in August of 2006, with the goal of driving both consumer awareness and the top manufacturers to address all the issues of E-Waste. Most of the companies have taken the challenge seriously and are making strides in both areas. Learn who and how here.

You say you haven’t looked at GreenPeace lately? You’re missing out on past, future and present history, as well as a shipload of information! It all began in 1971 with a vision for a peaceful and green world - yes, these activists have always been ahead of the times and they’ve stayed that way. Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Greenpeace now has 2.8 million supporters worldwide, with offices in 41 countries, passionately prioritizing global environmental campaigns.

GreenPeace covers alot of green ground. If you want the here and now when it comes to the ecology and economy, read Deep Green monthly here, where Rex Weyler of GreenPeace reminds us, it’s “Homeostasis or Collapse. Then for the really important stuff, he adds, “Don’t get depressed. Get Informed. And get active.”

by Tao Oliveto

Remember the Vote video from the other day that made me inexplicably teary? Well, here’s one that got me going again. It’s short, moving, not frightening or dark, just heart-opening.

What if you turned on your tap and nothing came out? What if it happened for an hour or more, or a day and then another? This is a real possibility in our near future. What if you didn’t have a tap? Running water is something many of us take for granted. Rainfall? ditto.

Watch this and tell me what your reaction is. What do you think of? Who do you think of? What is the next thing you’ll think about?

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

Remember Green Dimes? I joined last year and yep, for just a few dimes I’ve gotten off and stayed off most junk mail lists. However, another holiday season is approaching and I’m seeing some new catalogs have found me. I’ve been calling some of them to get of their lists, but it usually involves a long hold period, and reciting my name and address endlessly.

Just in time, I heard about a nonprofit, founded in October of 2007, which gets consumers OFF unwanted catalog lists. The online steps are simple and quick and once you’re in the system, you can return conveniently any time a new catalog shows up. This means you can still receive the catalogs you want, but, think twice (or three times) about how much you really get out of these when you can use their websites to browse products and place orders.

CatalogChoice.org is free and does not share your information with ANY lists of services. They already have over one million members and have kept over 13 million unwanted catalogs out of the mail. Catalog Choice also has a program for merchants which can help them clean up their distribution lists to save mailing costs, while actually increasing their customer base and respect customer preferences.

I’m signing on today, before the holiday mailing madness really gets in gear. Join me.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

Vote. Vote Early. Vote now.

There’s some good voting videos going around in cyberspace. Sarah Silverman reaches out to Jewish grandchildren in The Great Schelp and the other one, 5 Friends Uncensored includes a couple dozen celebrity voices. Sarah was more poignant than anything else in both views (though she does take her bra off under her shirt), so don’t hesitate to click on and click in, wherever you are now.

Watching Sarah made me think and made me laugh, but watching the other made me cry. I can’t say why. So, I watched it again just to be sure, and, well, tears running down my face and everything. Celebrities, irony and redundancy usually don’t move me to this place, but, for some reason, this did. Please watch and explain to me what happened.

If we could have three things in this world to instigate change, I believe it’s honesty, passion and action. Maybe that’s what this message tapped into. Looking at ourselves and the world in an honest way and then taking action to make the world and ourselves better.

Take time to think, take time to act.

Yours in Change,Tao

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

One of the things I enjoy most in my co-housing community is that we don’t have much outdoor lighting. Solar lights illuminate the walkways from foot level, while only few lamps overhead light up the parking lot, allowing the stars and moon to quite literally, shine through the nights. Awareness of the moon cycles are a part of my evening strolls and hooping to music/drums in the field under only stars is extra magical.

Since the community is just a couple miles from downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro, we’re able to have this cake and eat it, too. Urban centers have a need to light up the night for safety, but it’s possible we’ve reached exaggerated proportions in our response. Some city areas are so bright, it defies logic and certainly, conservation of any sort. “But officer, I actually thought my headlights were on!”…..this happened to me more than once while driving in downtown areas:

This week, NY Times blog, Green Inc., reported that a number of municipalities are turning off streetlights to save energy, as much as 64% of them. Other programs include the switch to efficient lighting. St. Paul, MN, following the lead of cities like Anchorage and Austin, is currently testing LED streetlights in one of it’s neighborhoods. The advantages are many, including a brighter and whiter light, no mercury, less heat produced, and as much as a 10-year lifespan of each bulb. The energy savings averages around 50%, while further savings from lower maintenance costs sweeten the deal.

Ann Arbor, MI, already using LEDs, is also considering implementing motion sensors in areas, so lights come on only when needed. Now that’s smart and efficient! Imagine if stores and other public buildings, locked up at night, considered this option in lighting - energy/money savings AND theft prevention in one.

Motion sensor floodlights have been around for residential use for a long time and I wish they were more widely used. My theory is that it makes your home safer from intruders because the light coming on suddenly is more of deterrent than one that is on by routine.

The future of lighting and energy use is looking damn bright! Changed those bulbs at home or in the office yet? If you were intially turned off by the weird look and light of the introductory CFL bulbs, come out of the dark and into the many options of new and improved Super-efficient-super-saving CFL, solar and LED bulbs available today. Find 40 choices here on RealGoods.com, including indoor/outdoor floods, dimmables, 3-ways and speciality bulbs for your favorite lamps.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

It’s been raining - a lot - here in the Triangle area of NC. I’m deeply grateful to be officially out of the longstanding drought (for now). I hope the same for other areas still struggling by, but first, I’m going to simply enjoy getting wet! It’s been a long while since I’ve worried about raindrops falling on my head but it has brought my attention to umbrellas.

Have you ever had an umbrella that didn’t fall apart after a very short time? Me neither. Most rainy days in any city end with umbrella skeletons scattered in the streets. You could have caught me red-handed, throwing them in the trash when I lived in Seattle years ago, but I’m much more savvy about recycling and the whole trash/treasure thing now! Obviously, there are a lot of other broken umbrellas in the landfills (or on their way) and since they are made of polyester and plastic, doomed to stay there.

I’ve since given up on umbrellas and opted for a more permanent rain jacket and rain hat. But it’s understandable that umbrellas still serve a rightful purpose for city dwellers navigating a work day. So, buy to last and buy recycled. Here’s the scoop on an umbrella made from recycled materials from the online source, Eco-incentives:

The Eco-Brella is the first environmentally friendly umbrella! This 6-panel telescopic umbrella, when folded down, is just 15cm in length, and weighs a mere 181g.

- Frame made from Recycled Steel and Aluminium
- Canopy and Case made from 100% Recycled Polyester
- Notch/Runner/Ferrule made from 100% Recycled Nylon
- Handle made from 100% Recycled PET (plastic bottles)

Even a recycled umbrella may reach an early demise, so then what? Think fashion, function and fun! Dresses and skirts made from umbrellas made it onto the runway (and into a few stores) years ago, but you can also make your own by following these DIY instructions on ReadyMade. Here’s a young designer who constructed a dress and handbag. TreeHugger reported on an umbrella house. My own ideas include a sleeping bag cover, book bag, and covers for a bicycle seat and panniers - both things I’ve really needed as I continue to commute on two wheels, computer in tow.

IdealBite helped me find one resource for umbrella recycling - a fashion store in Brooklyn, NY, called Ai Ai Gasa, collecting umbrellas to recycle into designer clothing. I’m thinking of taking up a collection around my neighborhood and sending them a box full (maybe I’ll get a dress out of the deal). Melanie, from Ai Ai Gasa, responded to my inquiry and will happily accept umbrellas by mail. She says it’s easier and cheaper if you cut the fabric from the metal skeleton (including the spoke ends if you can) and recycle the metal (or they can). Send to:

ai ai gasa
c/o melanie mcclintock
59 4th ave, #4R
brooklyn, ny 11217

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

When I was a little kid, it was hard to gauge my hunger appropriately. I always ended up with leftover food on my plate - or, worse, a stomach ache - especially when it came to things like dessert or Halloween candy. So, my mom often reminded me, “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach.” She was usually right. And, eventually, I learned to see things more clearly.

Of course, the appearance of all things “super-sized” demonstrates that many of us haven’t outgrown our misperceptions and misconceptions when it comes to how big and how much. Just take a look at our cars, our houses, our closets, our beverage containers and our dinner plates. Unfortunately, this habit has not served our world or our bodies well and though we’re starting to catch on, old habits die hard, as they say.

Take cars. I’ve always said, if only the people who really needed SUVs drove them, they wouldn’t be an environmental issue. And if we really looked at function and not form, wouldn’t a mini-van or a station wagon serve large families better? I’ve had my Prius since 2004 and many people tell me how they would love to have one, but they need more “space”. I’m not sure what that means exactly, when I have driven around often with 2 dogs, 4 passengers and hoops in the back.

In fact, yesterday’s incident in my Prius is what got me started on all this. We went to do our quarterly CSA group pick up - normally about 5 coolers of milk and a box of eggs - no problem. Well, yesterday, the other group in my area did not have a driver, so we hoped to be able to bring both groups back with us. I was skeptical - 10 large coolers in my Prius? Well, we started loading, and low and behold, with the back seats turned down, we fit (two people), all the coolers and a large box of eggs in the back, still allowing room to see out the back window.

If I had my camera, I could prove it, but you’ll have to just take to heart what I happen to glance at as we pulled out - it was in my sideview mirror, which today, I read as: “Things may be closer larger than they appear.”