Environment, Organics, Fair Trade & Recycling at Big Green Purse

Please: "Bury" Me Before I Die

Well, not exactly. I mean, I don't want to be buried alive, or anything weird like that.

But I've been to enough funerals and burials to know that they're usually wasted on the person being laid to rest. The people left behind - those still alive, in other words - get to have all the fun. As sad as the occasion is (and I mean absolutely no disrespect to those grieving the loss of a loved one), a funeral presents a wonderful opportunity to celebrate someone's life: who they were, what they loved, and the legacy they left behind.

Why would I want to miss that?

I don't. 

So...I want my funeral service before I die. And I want it exactly like this:

10 No-Brainer Ways to Use Water Wisely. Plus, a Bonus...

As I pointed out previously, we're drinking the same water Cleopatra drank.

That's another way of saying, the world just doesn't make more water. What's here is what's always been here. And it's what's always going to be here, even though there are more and more people using the limited water we have. Which is why we have to figure out how to make every drop of H2O count.  In honor of Blog Action Day's focus on water, here are 10 No Brainer Ways to Use Water Wisely.

1) Give up bottled water. How many reasons do you need? Toxic plastic is used to contain bottled water. Bottled water generates mountains of trash. Making bottled water and moving it around the globe wastes enormous amounts of energy. Bottled water may not be as safe to drink as tap water.  Here's the real kicker: bottling water wastes water. Two gallons of water are wasted for every gallon bottled. Stupid, no?

2) Give up the idea that you have to drink water all the time. Where did that notion come from, that somehow, your outfit isn't complete without a bottle of water by your side? I've gotten along just fine drinking from drinking fountains and -- believe it or not -- going for a couple of hours at a time without drinking water. Try it. You won't die.

We're Drinking the Same Water as Cleopatra. Is It as Clean?

Did you get a drink or throw in a load of laundry before starting to read this blog, written in honor of Blog Action Day? You probably could have, given the easy access most of us have to clean water.

One person of every three on the planet today isn't nearly so fortunate, according to the International Water Management Institute, given their lack of reliable access to fresh water. Even here in the U.S., the federal Government Accountability Office reported in 2003 that "water managers in thirty-six states anticipate water shortages locally, regionally, or statewide within the next ten years."

The rest of the world looks equally thirsty. By 2025, worries the Water Management Institute, all of Africa and the Middle East, and almost all of South and Central America and Asia, will either be running out of water or unable to afford its cost.

Dirty Water Kills Kids

Want to Reduce the Climate Change Impact of Your House? Follow This 10-Step Checklist.

Climate change seems so ... global.

Yet many climate change solutions are very ... local, because they're based on the way each and every one of us uses energy. On 10/10/10, thousands of people are having 'work' parties to do what they can to reduce the fossil-fuel generated carbon dioxide emissions that are the primary source of climate change. Why not use the day to check off at least half of these ten ways you can reduce the climate change impact of your home, too?

1. Caulk or weatherstrip windows and doors. Heating accounts for the biggest chunk of most utility bills – and offers the most opportunities for money and energy savings. Did you know that the energy used by the average home generates twice as much pollution as the average car? Materials for the average twelve-window, two-door house could cost about $25, but savings in annual energy costs might amount to more than 10 percent of your yearly heating bill. According to the Department of Energy, if every gas-heated home were properly caulked and weather-stripped, we'd save enough natural gas each year to heat almost 4 million more homes. You can find weatherstripping at most hardware stores. To minimize indoor air pollution from the weatherstripping materials you use, try water-based caulks like Quick Shield VOC-Free Sealant or Polyseamseal.

Meatless Monday: Here's How You Can Do It

What do you eat when you want to eat less meat? (If "Eat less meat" is NOT on your list of how to live healthier and greener, better read Ten Reasons to Eat Less Meat.)

Many folks used to whipping up burgers, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken nuggets, or pepperoni pizza fear they'll have the diet of a rabbit if they can't put a big juicy steak in the middle of their plate.

In reality, given the abundance of delicious fruits, vegetables, and grains sold in most supermarkets, making meat a bit player at dinner rather than the main event is easier than you think. Here's how you can get started.

* Meatless Monday - If the idea of giving up meat "cold turkey" throws you into a tizzy, why not start with one day - like today? You won't be alone. The "Meatless Monday" movement is gathering steam as folks like Sir Paul McCartney climb on the meat-free bandwagon. 

* Eat meat as an appetizer rather than the main course - Psychologists and dieticians have frequently observed that people derive the most satisfaction out of the first bite or two of whatever they're eating. (Think about it: that first taste elicits an "mmmmm - delicious." The last one? "Ughh - I'm so stuffed.") Could that be true of you, too? If so, relegate meat to appetizer status. Here are a few recipes to get you started.

* Find vegetarian meat substitutes that satisfy your tastebuds as well as your growling stomach. I'm partial to grilled tofu, pan roasted walnuts and pecans, and lentils and garbanzo beans ground into veggie burgers or tossed in soups and salads. Seitan and tempeh could be on the menu, too.

Vegetarian meals can be just as simple -- or complex -- as any meal you'd make with meat. These three  cookbooks provide delicious recipes worth giving a try.

Cookbooks You'll Love: