I love Girl Scouts!  Not only do I love the organization and what they are doing for girls, but I also love their cookies.  After all, who doesn’t love Girl Scout cookies?  However, I now have a new reason to love Girl Scout Cookies.  For those of you who have already purchased them this year, you may have noticed new packaging:

In the past Girl Scout Cookies were purchased by the box, but this year they are being sold as packages.  For most varieties of cookies, the only difference you will notice is the package in place of a box.  However for two varieties of Girl Scout Cookies, Thanks-A-Lot and Lemonades, you will notice that the cookies come in actual recyclable film, which is similar to the film cookies are normally bagged in, inside the paperboard boxes.  ABC Bakers, which is one of two licensed bakers of Girl Scout Cookies, started the new packaging in 2010 with only the Thanks-A-Lot Girl Scout Cookie.  They estimate that this change saved 150 tons of paperboard from the trash!  It also allowed them to ship more cookie packages per truck saving approximately 2,600 gallons of diesel a year!  However don’t worry too much about the paperboard packaging, as it is recyclable as well.

Turning to the side of the cookie package, you will notice a GreenPalm Sustainability logo.  This means that both ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers are official members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which is committed to producing sustainable, environmentally and socially responsible palm oil.  This means that all of the palm oil used in Girl Scout Cookies is sourced from RSPO.

In addition to sustainable packaging and palm oil, some varieties of Girl Scout Cookies made by ABC Bakers are also vegan.  Vegan food is more environmentally-friendly because it doesn’t have the large carbon-footprint made by animals.  Our vegan cookie-lovers will be please to know that they can enjoy the Thin Mint, Thank-A-Lot, Lemonades, and Peanut Butter Patties Girl Scout Cookies.

And there is one more environmentally-friendly reason to love Girl Scout Cookies: when a Girl Scout Troop in the Eastern Mass Council (which is most of the SouthCoast Energy Challenge area) sells at least 24 packages of cookies, Girl Scouts of Eastern Mass (GSEM) will symbolically adopt a dolphin from the National Wildlife Federation!  Now what did you say your favorite Girl Scout Cookie was?  Mine is Carmel DeLites!

http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/

http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/earth-friendly-practices

http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/out-of-the-box

http://www.girlscoutcookies.org

http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_cookies/pdf/2012_new_cookie_box.pdf

http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_cookies/faq.asp

http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/cookies/Cookie-Book.pdf

Did you know:

“Becoming vegetarian is one of the most important and effective actions you can take to ease the strain on our Earth’s limited resources, protect the planet from pollution, prevent global warming, and save countless species from extinction”?

Breading animals for food consumes huge amounts of water, grain petroleum, pesticides and drugs.

The meat industry is a major cause of fresh water depletion. According to Ed Ayres, of the World Watch Institute, “Around the world, as more water is diverted to raising pigs and chickens instead of producing crops for direct consumption, millions of wells are going dry. India, China, North Africa and the U.S. are all running freshwater deficits, pumping more from their aquifers than rain can replenish.” [1]

According to Ayres, “Pass up one hamburger, and you’ll save as much water as you save by taking 40 showers with a low-flow nozzle.”

In addition, the rainforest is being destroyed at an alarming rate in order to make room for cattle ranching.

“It is estimated that for each hamburger made from rainforest beef, members of life forms from approximately 20 to 30 different plant species, 100 different insect species, and dozens of bird, mammals, and reptile species are destroyed.”

Click here for more info on how vegetarian diets help the planet:  http://www.chooseveg.com/environment.asp

Though many modern luxuries have certainly brought comfort and convenience to contemporary life, many of us have begun to take these comforts for granted, while forgetting the cost we pay for such amenities in energy and natural resources. Many times, there are simpler, better, methods for achieving our goals, without sacrificing natural resources, or our quality of living in the progress.

Take refrigeration, for example. For thousands of years, people managed to make food last without the help of refrigeration, however today we have become so acclimated to having access to refrigerated goods and storage, that many of us cannot see living without it. Ironically enough, keeping food in your refrigerator may not be the best way to keep certain items fresh, and the average refrigerator can produce anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of CO2 in a year. In this article, published at Treehugger.com, designer Jihyun Ryou shows you simple ways to keep food fresher for longer, while adding to the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen décor and reducing your carbon footprint.

And while we’re on the topic of food, think about this the next time you’re staring at a seafood menu: one 3.5oz serving of shrimp is responsible for producing a carbon footprint equivalent to 436 pounds of CO2, according to this article, also published at Treehugger.com. Though I wouldn’t suggest storing your shrimp cocktail anywhere but a refrigerated space (save, for maybe the ocean, in the case of live prawns), the when you add the carbon cost of raising, transporting, processing, and storing the shrimp, it sure adds up to one environmentally expensive meal.

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”

We all know the quote, but did you know that it only applies to natural substances. Unlike most materials, polystyrene (PS), which is what Styrofoam cups are made out of, does not biodegrade for at least 500 years. The products we buy that contain PS will without a doubt out last us, our kids, and grand kids.  When we purchase a product with the recycling #6 symbol it means that that product is made from polystyrene.

According to the EPA, there are 25 billion styrofoam cups thrown away every year. Unlike other plastics, Styrofoam crumbles very easily and gets washed away into our local and not so local coast lines. You can imagine some of the consequences of those actions. Just imagine if this beach was in your town. Who would be responsible for the clean up and the cost associated? Would it take the destruction of our local beaches in order for us to change our ways? I hope not. Remember that styrofoam Dunkin’ Donuts cup for this morning? What did you you do with it?

So how can we fix this environmental disaster? Here’s an easy fix. Don’t purchase styrofoam cups. If you don’t purchase them, you don’t have to throw them away. If you do purchase them, try to reuse them. Keep one in your car, and when you order your next iced coffee ask your barrista to leave out the outside styrofoam cup. Even better, grab your reusable mug and bring it to your coffee shop. In my local Dunkin’ Donuts they they accept reusable mugs and they give me a ten cent discount for using one. The majority of environmental degradation can be reduced by simple changes in our behavior.

Styrofoam covered beach

Your December Challenge: For one month, bring your own coffee to work in a reusable coffee mug, or use a reusable mug when purchasing coffee. Then upload a picture of you holding your reusable coffee mug with some of your work colleagues to our Facebook page wall! You never know, you might just win a prize!

Being such a productive country, we have a consistent food supply chain. But do you ever wonder how many farmers there actually are? According to the EPA, there are about 960,000 farmers and about 2.1 million farms in the United States. That means that %1 of our population grows enough food to feed us all (apart from the food we import from other countries)! That must require a lot of capital, hard work and dedication.

In 1935, there were over 6.5 million farms. Today’s farmer is much more efficient than farmers in the past. They basically do more with less. So one might assume that they must be making huge sums of money, right? After all, there’s less of them than ever before, and our population keeps growing and growing. Unfortunately, this is not the case. 75% of farms gross less than $50,000 a year. So the institution of farming is on the decline yet we all must eat. So what can we do to ensure we always have fresh local produce available year after year, generation after generation?

During a trip to Hawaii last year, I ate so much local food, and without a doubt they were some of the best meals I’ve ever had. The vegetables were crisp and juicy. The meats were lean. After I ate, I was refreshed and full of energy. I didn’t realize until then just how poor quality most of the food I eat really is. Simply put, I was in food heaven. But you don’t have to go to Hawaii to get the very best. We have it all available right here underneath our feet.

A great way to start discovering the local flavor is to seek out a local farmers market. All it takes is one visit and you will discover a world of super fresh, locally grown produce. The SEMAP Farmers Market Map is a great way to start your search. By purchasing directly from the farmer, your purchase is not only supporting our current farmers and local agricultural economy, but also ensuring their future success. And lets not forget–local foods are fresher and just taste better, than produce imported from large-scale farms in other parts of the county or world!

Second, check out the SEMAP harvest calendar! Now you know exactly what you should expect before every visit.

And third, go! Get out of your rut and discover something new. Discover what the SouthCoast really has to offer! I promise you will be surprised and impressed. And after your done, don’t forget to let your friends and family know about your experience. And while you’re at it, let us know too, in the comments area below.

Halloween is like winning the jackpot for a kid with a sweet tooth. It is a special occasion, and it demands candy.  Why not consider trying something new this year…and, gulp, environmentally friendly?! Read on and discover some candies that kids will love and can work with your goal to reduce energy consumption.

Greenopia conducted a survey of 10 candy makers, and found that only 2 of the candidates qualified for their highest rating. The criteria they used to judge the candy makers were six factors:

•  Environmental Reporting – based on energy usage, emissions, and water consumption.

•  Ingredient Sourcing – does the company practice sustainability, fair trade, etc.

•  Packaging – use of recycled materials, alternative materials, lightweight packaging, etc.

•  Logistics - building design policies, ingredient sourcing etc.

•  Renewable Energy Usage

•  Credible Eco-labels

The top rated, eco-friendly candy brand is Endangered Species Chocolate. And they even have a Halloween sale featuring fun treats for kids!

The second highest rated, Theo Chocolate, also has a sale going on: 20% of for three days only! That still leaves you time to load up for Halloween!

In general, when you are out shopping for those last minute trick-or-treat giveaways, consider the following:

•  Look for the fair trade label on chocolate- and coffee-based candy. No one should suffer so we can enjoy delicious, delicious chocolate!!

•  Consider buying locally! There are some local treat-makers out there who will knock your socks off, like Dorothy Cox Chocolates in Fairhaven. Or, going a different route, you can get great local fudge & candy apples at Dartmouth Orchards on Old County Rd.

•  Make your own!! There is nothing better than fresh baked goods–unless, maybe, it is home-made candy! Try making your own candy apples or fudge!  Check here for a few ideas on that score!

Let us know if you try any of these energy saving, environmentally friendly sweet treat options. Good luck, and happy eating this Halloween!!

Autumn is here! The weather is cooling down and the leaves are changing colors, a great time to enjoy nature in New England. This is the first of a series of postings where you can find ways to enjoy Halloween in an environmental friendly way.

Pumpkin carving is a fun family activity, giving kids a chance to express their creativity, and a great way to get in the spirit of the season.  If you need inspiration there are millions of tips and ideas online whether you’re a novice or pro.

And when you scrape the goop out of the inside of the pumpkin, don’t throw away the seeds! You can toast them and make a high protein, tasty snack.

To really maximize the benefits from your pumpkin,  add the left over parts to your compost pile– which will help you create great home-made fertilizer for next year’s garden!

Finally, you can use an interactive map on SEMAP’s farmfresh.org to search for local farm stands, farmer’s markets and places you can go to pick your own pumpkins!

Hope you enjoyed my first blog post! Please send tips to be featured in upcoming posts!

Farm Fresh Fall Produce!

With the leaves changing color and the air getting colder it means it’s that time of the year again. The local farmers markets and farm stands are in full flourish with this seasons harvest. Ripe fruit such as Apples, Peaches, Pears, Nectarines and Plumbs can be found in abundance next to a variety of fresh Fall vegetables. But what makes farmers markets so much better than your local grocery store?

Have you ever wondered why you can get bananas and strawberries in the middle of winter?

Super Market Produce

This is because the vegetables and fruit in your local supermarket have been either frozen or picked unripened and shipped hundreds of miles from where they originated  (often South America, New Zealand, and/or southern United States).  During shipment produce is stored in containers full of  gases that preserve and ripen them during the transfer. See a neat video about this!

But wait–if they are picked unripened, why are the fruit and vegetables at the grocery store so big, as if they were allowed a full season to grow?

An interesting genetic modification!

Many of the fruits and veggies available in supermarkets these days have been genetically modified to be bigger and brighter. Large scale farms have taken  Gregor Mendel’s concept of genetic inheritance to a whole new level. Instead of simply planting  seeds from the best of this years harvest next year, large scale, industrial farms have hired teams of scientists to create super produce that is bigger, juicer and more colorful then anything else out there. Because this is a very new science–GMO foods only started being available in the past decade–the long term effects of these genetically altered super foods to the human body and the environment is unknown.

I don’t care if I eat a mutated tomato if it’s cheap!

That is a reasonable standpoint; most families are ultimately going to go with the more affordable food options. But is super market produce really more affordable? Transportation, packaging and storage play key roles in the cost of imported produce, as well as the final markup by the grocery store to create a profit a small profit for themselves all add to the increasingly high cost of supermarket produce. Local farms, farmers markets, and farm stands may carry a smaller selection, but their produce has generally been grown locally (if not on that very farm), thus greatly reducing transportation costs. They can only offer what is available in season, but often it has picked been picked that very day, so it is guaranteed fresh. At farmers markets a majority of the time you are also dealing directly with the person who grew the product. This allows you to occasionally get special deals if you continually purchase from them; reducing the overall cost even more. At the end of the day, local fruit and vegetables are actually a bit cheaper, as well as a bit more delicious than store bought produce.

So the next time you go to a supermarket, just remember: you could be buying cheaper, healthier, fresher LOCAL produce from your local farmers market. Which could be just down the street.

For locations and times of your nearest farmers market check out Farmfresh.org

Not sure where to start saving energy? Follow our easy pathway that will put you on the road to energy efficiency. These simple steps will make a real environmental impact and will save you money too!  Check out our Easy Pathway to Energy Efficiency here.

What simple, no cost efficiency actions do you practice at home?