by Rob Gardner

Welcome to Sustainable Linfield, a hub of activity for discussing all things sustainable at Linfield College and beyond.

This blog site was created by the students of SOAN/ ENVS 250- Environmental Sociology in the Spring of 2011. While the site has been “live” for nearly a year, I figured Earth Day, 2012 would be an appropriate time to officially launch the site and showcase the work of our students to a broader public audience.

Over the next several weeks, new blog posts will be added daily so please return often and share your perspective by commenting on the various posts. You are also encouraged to “like”, “tweet” or forward individual blog posts to your friends and colleagues.

Submissions are organized into the following categories:

• Issues: an overview of key social, economic, and environmental issues facing our planet
• Campus Activity: showcasing sustainability projects on the campuses of Linfield College
• Ideas, Concepts, and Theories: introduction to important ideas in environmental sociology and sustainability studies.
• Local Community: issues, events, and happenings in Yamhill County, and beyond.
• Solutions: discussion of groups, individuals, or organizations making a difference
• Resources: review and discussion of important books, articles, research, and films related to sustainability
• Daily Practices- discussion of daily practices to make your life, office, apartment, or home more sustainable.

The goal of this site it to provide a venue to exchange ideas and educate the broader community about the challenges facing our planet and things we can all do to make a difference.

While the articles contained within have been authored or compiled by Linfield students, any student, faculty, administrator, or staff member is welcome to author their own blog submission. Just email me, Rob Gardner, at rgardne (at) linfield.edu and I can give you an overview of the blog and instructions on how to post.

Happy Earth Day and happy reading!

 

 

By Katie MacKay and Kit Crane

In McMinnville we are lucky to have sustainable options for dining out. We will highlight three restaurants in our community that have environmentally friendly and personally healthy selections.

Community Plate

Community Plate is located on 3^rd Street in McMinnville, Oregon and they serve breakfast and lunch. When you walk into the restaurant you see a few individual tables, but the focus is the longer tables. As you can deduce from the name, Community Plate has a mission to enhance community. Multiple parties can be seen sitting at these tables. This restaurant also supports community by working with local “growers, farmers, and artisans.” Click on the link above for exact location and hours, as well as a look at the CP Menus.

Thistle

Thistle is located on North Evans St. in McMinnville, Oregon and serves dinner.  Thistle is small eatery that seats just under thirty.  The small space and dark rich tones of the restaurant creates a cozy and calm dinning experience.  The owner Eric Bechard is committed to working with local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen to ensure that only fresh and local food is served at Thistle.  On any given day the menu has about twelve items and changes daily based on the seasonal availability of food.  Thistle also serves local wines, which is no surprise as it is located in the heart of Oregon wine country. For current up to date information visit Thistle’s Facebook Page.

The Old Oak

The Old Oak (formerly Oak and Ivy) is located on North East Davis St. in McMinnville, Oregon and serves a variety of beverages in a ”vintage collegiate themed sports tavern.”  The owner, Eric Bechard, is already a well established in the McMinnville community as the owner of Thistle and Community Plate.  Oak and Ivey only been open for a few weeks and is already a hit with the locals.

While these are some of the newer restaurants in McMinnville, we are fortunate to have many other restaurants and wineries in our community that have sustainable practices. This is by no means an exhaustive list! Please share some of your own suggestions in the comment box below.

 

 

 

Alternative, home-brewed cleaning products are better for the environment than the commercially produced, hands down. One avoids the fuels and toxins used for most of their production and transport. We know that the ingredients in most home cleaners are poisonous from the warning labels on the packaging. Doing your own research to find the information behind the practices of the companies that create these home products is difficult and the damage that could be occurring, from dumped chemicals in the environment to unsafe factory conditions, is not a risk many would want to make. To cut out “the middle man” and live a more sustainable and organic lifestyle, I recommend making your own, toxin-free home cleaners yourself. Here are a few simple directions for specific cleaners;

General Household Cleaner (http://www.ecocycle.org/hazwaste/recipes.cfm)

Mix:

• 1 tsp. liquid soap (castile, peppermint)
• 1 tsp. borax
• Lemon juice

OR

• ¼ cup baking soda
• ½ cup borax
• ½ cup vinegar
• 1 gallon water

Window Cleaner

Mix:

• 2 tsp. vinegar
• 1 qt. warm water

OR

• 2 tbsp. borax
• 3 cup water

Rub with newspaper

Disinfectant

Mix:

• ¼ cup borax
• ½ gallon hot water

For more recipes, check blogs like http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

Reusable tin container!

Update!:

I recently found a locally made household cleaner made by Willakenzie Lavender, LLC  (www.willakenzielavender.com). The cleanser contains baking powder, borax, salt, and pure lavender essential oils (for scent). After cleaning my entire kitchen and bathroom with it, my house smells lavendery-fresh and earth-friendly. I highly recommend it.10 oz. is $7.50 at retail price, and supports your local Yamhill businesses.  Of course, you can still make your own cleaners if you’re feeling crafty and wish to be more connected with the process.

List of Recipes for Alternative Cleaners:

• http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/environmental_health/recycling_home_toxics/hhw/hhw_nontoxic_html
• http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm
• http://www.aboutcleaningproducts.com/alternatives.php
• http://www.live-the-organic-life.com/alternative-cleaning-products.html

Picture Sources:

• http://www.environmentteam.com/list/5-toxic-free-art-supplies-for-the-artist-inside-your-kid/http://www.environmentteam.com/list/5-toxic-free-art-supplies-for-the-artist-inside-your-kid/
• http://acam.typepad.com/communitytable/2010/07/keep-your-home-safe-by-using-natural-cleaning-products.html

-JaeLyn Forthun

By Kady Kirkendall

Problem:

As our population has increased so has the amount of land we use to inhabit that growing population.  Our cities are expanding and the suburban area found just outside of them is expanding as well.  People flock to these suburbs in hopes of a better life with greater access to resources and hopes of a healthier and greater lifestyle.  Urban sprawl itself has been hard to define.  Some have defined it in terms of the negative environmental problems it causes, like car-dependency and loss of farm lands, while others have described it as low-density suburban growth that expands in an unlimited and non-reversing manner outward from the built-up core of a city (Evans & Hacker, 2011).  While this problem is occurring worldwide, it is especially evident in the United States with every large city guilty of having acres upon acres of surrounding suburban homes.

Photo by Christoph Gielen

Causes/Human Factors:

The causes of urban sprawl are varied, yet connected.  To put the problem simply, urban sprawl is caused by the continuous outward growth of cities.  There are a number of causes for this, but three main causes can be identified.  They are population growth, American values and zoning regulations.  The population of the world is growing at a rapid pace and the total land mass available for people to live off of is not.  Some, including Robert Kunitz, senior editor of National Geographic environment,estimate that we will have nine billion people by the year 2045 (2011).  With this growing population comes an increased rush to the city centers and an increase in building infastructure to house people.  To learn more about the world’s growing population, view Kunitz’s article and photos visit National Geographic.

The average American has influenced urban sprawl as well, by wanting to live outside of the city centers, avoiding crime, noise, traffic and other problems, while at the same time being close enough that they could make a trip in quite easily to use the resources a large city supplies.  Dr. David B. Resnick, who writes for the American Journal of Public Health, explains that starting in the 1950s “people wanted homes with more square footage and yard space…currently, residents of sprawling cities tend to live in single-family homes and commute to work, school, or other activities by automobile” (2010).  This lifestyle has become the desire for the majority of Americans, in many ways it is the American dream.

Another major cause of urban sprawl is zoning laws and regulations.  The Webster’s dictionary defines zoning as “a set of local government regulations and requirements that control the use, placement, spacing and size of buildings and lots (as well as other types of land uses) within specific areas designated as zones primarily dedicated to certain land use” (2008).  For example, these desginated single-use zones of cities and suburbs are responsible for the large industrial areas of cities sectioned off, large shopping areas of cities sectioned off, and large neighborhoods of nothing but single family homes or large apartment complexes sectioned off.  This creates a situation where the places people live, work, eat, and shop are separate and far from one another. The zoning regulations create a specific pattern in the suburban development that causes extreme separation of uses and vast distances between things (Kunstler, 1993).  To watch a video and learn more visit http://www.veoh.com/ and search “The End of Suburbia”.

An aerial view of an industrial zone complex in California.

Impacts:

While this problem does not show any immediate social implications the evidence is there and more and more people are becoming concerned.  The environmental impacts of this phenomena are clear, higher car-dependency leads to more toxins being placed into the atmosphere and paving over natural landscapes forces rainfall to run off in unnatural ways talking pollutions with it.  Urban sprawl also has some serious social impacts.  The design of urban and suburban landscapes has lead to a change in lifestyle.  The average human lifestyle is impacted by this in three ways: a decrease in health, both mentally and physically, rise in cost of living and an increase in problems with employment.

Numerous studies have shown that current urban designs have lead to increases in health problems for people.  An urban development pattern that makes automobile use a necessity to move from one place to another to perform daily life tasks, shows an indisputable relationship between “more air pollutants, such as ozone and airborne particles…and respiratory problems such as asthma and lung cancer” (Resnik, 2010).  Further research has shown that this design cuts down the amount of exercise a person gets daily by a drastic amount.  The transportation system is built around the use of automobiles and less and less on people biking or walking to work and school.  A further decline in exercise is due to the fact that “many suburban environments are not designed to include parks or walking/biking trails” for recreation (Evans & Hacker, 2011).  This decline in exercise has lead to lack of weight control, cardiovascular function, and even a loss in stress management (Resnik, 2010).

Urban sprawl has also led to a higher cost of living since most people have to commute from their home area to their work area and to their shopping area.  Since single-use zoning laws have lead to job sprawl (when the industrial job market is located in one area and the business job market is located in another and the home of a person located in yet another area), a person might not be able to find transportation from one part of town to a job in another part.  This especially affects those looking for entry-level employment whom might have to travel up to an hour to get to a job and whom might not be able to afford transportation.

When looking into the future with growing populations, it will be crucial to look at the current designs of our developments and try to think of a more sustainable plan.  This plan must look at all aspects of the system including social, political, cultural and environmental views.

Resources:

Books:

The Geography of Nowhere – James Howard Kunstler

Edge City – Joel Garreau

Articles:

“Expanding Waistelines and Expanding Cities: Urban Sprawl and its Impact of                                    Obesity, How the Adoption of Smart Growth Statutes Can Build Healthier and                                  More Active Communities” Virginia Environmental Law Journal 29(1) 2011. –                                Russell Evans & Vanessa Hacker

“Urban Sprawl, Smart Growth, and Deliberative Democracy” American Journal of Public Health 100(10) 2010. – David B. Resnik

Film:

The End of Suburbia or watch online.

Online Article:

7 Billion

by Jonathan Chikamoto

Who Killed the Electric Car?

Watching “Who Killed the Electric Car” was probably one of the most heartbreaking film clips that I have ever watched about the renewable energy sector. This movie can be found on iTunes as well on DVD at most stores. I highly recommend watching this movie if you have the time.

For those that are not familiar with the history of automobiles, the electric car was one of the earliest forms of automated transportation. Many of the first automobiles were electric. The early 1900’s saw the birth and death of the electric car. The combustion engine automobile simply out priced the electric car in the early days. Cheap oil and cheap assembly techniques allowed the combustion engine to outpace the electric car. The electric car saw a comeback in the early1990’s with the advent of General Motors EV1 project. The EV1 was an all-electric vehicle that was leased out to many people in California. At the end of the lease period, the EV1 fleet was destroyed.

Why Switch to an Electric Vehicle?

1. Electricity is cheaper than gas, and can come from renewable resources such as solar and wind power.

2. Electric cars pollute less than gas-powered cars (especially when renewable energy sources are used to generate the electricity).

3. Electric cars are much more reliable and require less maintenance than gas-powered cars. You do not even need to get your quarterly oil change!

4. By using domestically generated electricity rather than relying on foreign oil, we can achieve energy independence and will no longer need to engage in costly wars in the Middle East to secure an energy supply.

5. Electric cars can utilize the existing electric grid rather than require the development of a new, expensive energy infrastructure (as would be the case with hydrogen).

Information taken from: http://www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com/why

Why was the Fleet Destroyed?

There have been many answers given by both General Motors and market analysts. General Motors claimed that there was not sufficient demand for the EV1, that it was not practical for consumers, and it was not ready for the market. Oil companies also played a large role in generating smear campaigns and other campaigns against the electric vehicle market in California because of the 1990 Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate. This mandate required that automakers only sell cars that do not create emissions.

This mandate was met with strong opposition from oil industry and the automotive industry. General Motors lead a lawsuit against the state of California for the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate, which lead to the collapse of the state’s support for the mandate due to the pressure of the automotive and oil industry and the federal government. The federal government appropriated large amounts of capital to research hydrogen fuel cell technology, which effectively killed the research into electric vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is extremely energy intensive and expensive to produce and a technology that is way out into the future. The hydrogen fuel cell technology is currently not available, while the electric vehicle, technology is readily available.

The Greatest Business Blunder of all Time

In the end, lack of understanding of the electric car from the American consumer, the automotive industry, oil industry, the California Air Resource Board, the federal government killed the electric car. California folded under the pressure of the automotive industry. The EV1 was taken back from lessees and the entire fleet was scrapped. Many have called the recall and destruction of the General Motors electric fleet the greatest business blunder of all time. Currently, Nissan is the only car company that is mass-producing an electric vehicle.

I have put my name on the waiting list for a Nissan’s electric vehicle, the Leaf and I will not be able to lease or buy the Leaf for at least another two years because their waiting list is so long! There is an apparent demand for electric vehicles, and General Motors, Ford, or any other American automobile company will not be able to catch up to Nissan or any other Asian brand car that have invested in electric vehicle technology. This truly was the greatest blunder by the American automotive industry. They had the chance to lead the market, but let that chance go past them. We have the ability to choose what we drive and our choices truly make a difference in the market place. Demand electric vehicles from auto manufacturers, register for a Nissan Leaf, there are many ways to get involved to change our future. For more information on electric vehicles, visit Plug in America’s website at: http://www.pluginamerica.org/faq/general-question.

by Katie Kann

In the book Soil Not Oil, author and activist Vandana Shiva argues the benefits of returning to the soil as a solution to our current environmental and social problems – in a nutshell, to salvage our humanity. An expert on soil fertility with many years of farming, Shiva states that “soil fertility is built by recycling organic matter to feed soil organisms.”

The recycling of organic materials, or composting, is an excellent way to return nutrients to the soil. Traditionally, we have given thought to recycle such materials as grass and garden clippings, food scraps, egg shells and coffee grounds. However, there is a growing movement that recognizes that humans, too, make waste and that this waste can be incorporated back into the system to create soil fertility and nourish the plants that feed us.

The reason to return nutrients to the soil is because they exist in limited supplies there and are replenished very slowly. Growing food actually removes nutrients from the ground as they are taken up and used by plants to grow. As one can see, continually growing plants in an area without returning nutrients to the soil somehow will deplete the soil of nutrients and render it incapable of supporting any further agricultural activities (Toolbox for Sustainable City Living).

There are several ways to return nutrients to the soil. Fertilizers are chalk-full of nutrients and were created for the purpose of enhancing soils, but are often man-made and composed of various chemicals that might actually do more harm than good depending on potency, amount and application. Of course, the organic agriculture movement rejects the application of chemical fertilizers (for resources about organic agriculture click here), so what to do?

Composting food scraps is another solution and is a great way to keep organic matter that can be re-used out of landfills. However, because the majority of food gets eaten and not composted there are far less nutrients being returned to the soil from food scraps than actually could be.

For as long as we’ve had flushing toilets, we have been excreting most of the nutrients in our food cycle after they pass through our digestive systems and flushing them down the toilet to who-knows-where. The movement toward systems of living that are cyclical will make no headway unless we come to terms with how we manage human waste. For some people, this is icky business to discuss. But many people are finding that they can turn their waste into the equivalent of gold for their soils.

A truly closed-loop system requires some form of human-waste recycling. Never fear! Today’s advances in the fields of microbiology and disease transmission have given us the knowledge to compost human waste safely. We can do this without chemicals or mechanical systems, creating properly-composted “humanure” that adds fertility to our soils and puts an end to flushing our waste down the toilet into someone’s or something’s watershed (defined as an area of land where water flows to a common point), somewhere else. The funny thing about watersheds is that everything is in one, and that they are all connected. So in some parts of the country,  flushing our crap down the toilet can come back to haunt us. Imagine if we could eliminate this problem! Fact: We can – by pulling our waste out of that system and using it as a long-term investment in soil fertility.

So how do we go about composting human waste? There are numerous systems that have been designed by creative and forward-thinking individuals not too different from you and me. Here is one example of a  fairly simple home-made composting toilet system:

If you’re not the do-it-yourself type but you’d really like to divert your waste from our water system, check out these composting toilets that you can buy from retailers! The photo below features an Envirolet Waterless Toilet made of sandstone granite. It can be used with a composting toilet system or an outhouse, but its main feature is that it is 100% waterless. A toilet like this is a great option for anyone interested in making humanure and cutting their utility bills and conserving water at the same time!

“The creating of waste products is a trait common to all living organisms. Waste products should be seen as another phase in an ongoing cycle of nutrient use. Instead of being emptied into rivers to pollute the waters of downstream communities, waste products could build local soil fertility or irrigate crops. Along with food, water and energy production, the intelligent  processing and recycling of human-generated wastes is an integral component of a sustainable city.” – Toolbox for Sustainable City Living

Sources:
http://www.surferswithoutborders.org/Ecological_Sanitation.html
The Toolbox for Sustainable City Living

Other Resources:
The Humanure Handbook
Video: The Loveable Loo
Video: Emptying Humanure Toilet Receptacles
Humanure on Facebook

by Kelsi Kruger

While buying from farmer’s markets and food produced locally is the best option for reducing the miles your food must travel before it reaches your dinner table, there are a multitude of options with varying benefits you can employ when deciding how to shop. They range from the aforementioned farmer’s markets and food produced within a certain radius of your home to walking or riding your bike to the store, particularly when purchasing foods that must be “imported” to your area.

One simple change in habits can result in a variety of benefits. One of those changes is choosing to walk or bike to the store for groceries instead of driving. Most obviously, this eliminates greenhouse gas used to transport yourself and your groceries to and from the store and your home. While you may end up paying slightly higher prices for food than you would in the large multi-state chain store across town, you save in gas and wear-and-tear on your vehicle. Also, the gas mileage of a car decreases when the car is used for many short trips and stop-and-go driving; it just makes sense to save your car for longer trips in which you cannot utilize public transportation. There are times you may need to use a car, such as when the weather is particularly nasty or the amount of food you have to buy would be unrealistic to carry, but with a little planning it’s possible to pair those trips with other stops, and even carpool.

Walking or riding your bike to the store also gives you the chance to escape outside to the fresh air, and get a little exercise while you’re at it. Even on days when the weather isn’t perfect clear blue skies, it feels good to get out and get your blood pumping. When walking or riding a bike you are not as disconnected from your surroundings as you would be in a car. You might notice a store, small park, or find a dollar on the sidewalk that you’d miss trapped in a car. Additionally, the extra time gives you a much-needed mental break from studying, homework, and the stresses of a too-busy life.

If you’re planning to walk or bike to the store, you’ll want to invest in (and remember to bring) a sturdy, reliable reusable bag to carry your groceries in, if you don’t already have a backpack or shoulder bag that would be sufficient. Try checking out a secondhand store before buying a new bag for an older one in good condition you could reuse.

Perhaps the most important result of walking to purchase your groceries is that you will question everything you choose more than once. If you know you will have to carry everything home, you’ll be less inclined to purchase food that comes with lots of heavy packaging, or food that you won’t reasonably eat before it expires.

Walking to the store also cuts down on impulse buying, because you generally need to plan your trip in advance and you have a very limited space to carry groceries. Rather than just buying whatever looks good and trying to assemble a meal later, you have to think about what you want to eat, the nutritional qualities of those foods, and how much you’re consuming. In this way, you are forced to be more conscientious in your purchases and more aware of what you eat.

Don’t forget, this doesn’t just apply to grocery shopping. There are a wide variety of stores near campus offering almost everything a college student would need, from books and banks to toiletries and school supplies. Don’t be afraid to get out and pound the pavement for an afternoon to see what you find!

by Kelsi Kruger

One of the greatest resources we have for perpetuating environmental awareness is through the written word. For example, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is largely considered the catalyst that started the environmental movement in the 1960’s. However, since that time, many authors and works have emerged that are also highly relevant when dealing with environmental issues. This list is not all-encompassing, and is merely the opinion of one person. Indeed, I strongly encourage you to check out other books by these authors, and especially those works recommended to you by friends and colleagues. Even if you’re unsure about it, what do you have to lose by giving it a few hours of your time?

Teaching environmental literature (and literature not normally considered “environmental” in an environmental context) is necessary if we have any hope of cultivating a well-informed, sustainable society. However, we should not wait until the college level to begin exposing ourselves to these ideas. For example, most advertising is aimed at children and teenagers. If they were at least partially aware of the hidden consequences of the purchases they make, is it unfair to believe they would make more sustainable choices? Allowing them to experience a wide variety of environmental literature would also encourage them to seek out those topics which peak their interest and inspire them to take action.

Where to find books

The major downside of books is that they require resources in their production and transportation; let’s face it, books come from trees, are heavy, and take up space in your home. Lucky for us we’ve already figured out a solution to this problem: Take a walk or ride a bike to your local library and get connected to a vast network of shared books right in your own community. Try checking out the McMinnville Library, in easy walking distance from campus. Many libraries are part of larger networks, which share books with each other. The Nicholson Library on Linfield’s campus is one example. The best part is these books will be continually reused, so new copies of older books do not need to be produced. However, if you absolutely must have a hard copy of your own to make notes in or give to a loved one, consider buying a used book. Like buying any used item, the resources to produce it have already been expended. Personally, I love used books that are worn and faded and have notes from previous owners in the margins. It’s a tangible show of the connection you share with others who have been affected by the same ideas. Most secondhand stores have a wide selection of used books, like Goodwill and St. Vincent De Paul, but don’t forget conventional bookstores that may have a used book section, such as Third Street Books in McMinnville or Powell’s Books in Portland. Also, talk with your friends, classmates, colleagues, and family members; they may have a copy they don’t want anymore or are willing to share.

Five Influential Books

A Sand County Almanac – Aldo Leopold

A classic written by a revolutionary mind, with something for everyone. It begins with nature writing at its best, outlining a year of observations, leading into a discovery of the importance of ecology, and ending with a discussion about the ethics of environmental use and conservation. Pay special attention to the sections Thinking Like a Mountain and The Land Ethic, they’re often referenced in other works.

The Monkey Wrench Gang- Edward Abbey

An entertaining work of fiction about non-violent resistance undertaken by a group of people who see environmental wrongs being done, and choose to take action to correct them. It is worth reading for the questions regarding the alleged rights of humans to abuse the environment, and for a change in pace from non-fiction pieces. Also recommended and by this author: Desert Solitaire: A Season in Wilderness

The Omnivore’s Dilemma – Michael Pollan

If you like food, this is a must. Pollan poses questions about food production you never thought to ask, and answers questions you never thought there was an answer to. For better or for worse (but mostly for the better), you’ll never look at food the same way again. There is also a Young Readers Edition for younger audiences. Also recommended and by this author: The Botany of Desire, In Defense of Food

Stolen Harvest – Vandana Shiva

A startling look at the state of the environment outside the United States, and the practices big businesses will employ and conceal in order to protect their profit margin. Highly recommended if you’re also interested in food production. Also recommended and by this author: Soil Not Oil

Brave New World– Aldous Huxley

While not overtly concerning the environment, this dystopian novel deals with the rights of individuals and groups in regards to resource use, distribution, and consumption, as well as the social implications of a homogenization of culture. Though arguably much exaggerated, it serves as a cautionary tale against accepting whatever you are told to be true.

 

 

Not intrigued by these books or looking for something different? Check out these authors:

Rachel Carson
Paul Erlich
John Muir
Edward Abbey
Aldo Leopold
Sigurd Olson
William Cronon
Michael Pollan
Vandana Shiva
Henry David Thoreau
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Gary Snyder
John Steinbeck

Still not interested?

Want something a little bit shorter, with a few more pictures, either for yourself or a child? Pick up Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax, it’s as good a place to start as any!

by Mitra Haeri

Cosmetics, we use them everyday. The fact that they are such a huge part of our daily life is what makes it difficult to believe that the cosmetics industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental injustice. From the ingredients to the packaging this industry is known for their utter disregard for the environment. We always hear about limiting the amount of paper we use or drinking ethically produced coffee in order to save the forests but no one ever talks about making the right cosmetic choice to do this. Most cosmetics are packaged in virgin paper and many of the ingredients including the palm oil that is used in almost all of the Dove products come from rainforests in South America, both of these contribute greatly to deforestation (click link to watch amazing Greenpeace video). It is not just the process of creating the product that makes cosmetics a culprit in environmental injustice but also the disposal of both the product and the container. Most products are over packaged and the containers that they come in are made form plastic that is produced using fossil fuels and is then disposed of in a landfill.

So what can you do about this? Well if you are like me and aren’t quite ready to abandon all beauty products this instant here are some products and companies that incorporate environmental consciousness into their business ideals:

Aveda

Kiehl’s

Clarins

Estée Lauder Cos.

Resources:

Time Magazine. Behind the Pretty Picture

by Jules Johnson

Forsaking the automobile for the bicycle for your daily commutes is arguably one of the best ways to cut down on your carbon footprint and better your personal health practices. The following post will help get you started on finding the right bike, navigating your community and having a great time on the way to your work or school.

Planning Your Commute

Cities and their associated public transit systems are becoming more and more accommodating to bicyclists, allowing commuters to safely cycle when they choose to and pack their bikes onto public transports for longer commuting when the need arises. When planning your route, try to avoid busy intersections and pedestrian traffic heavy areas. Cities often have information readily available to potential cyclists, inquire about it. The following are links to potential resources that may help you start pedaling.

• Oregon State Bike Maps: The Oregon Department of Transportation has this readily available series of maps that outline major roads with amount of shoulder room and traffic exchange. Pamphlets available per request have more info on season specific tips. Click above link for more info. For a list of rider-made routes go to MapMyRide.com and enter your desired location.
• Rules of the road: If your bicycle wants to play with the cars it has to act like one. This is a link to bike specific laws and guidelines that primarily illustrate that bikers are subject to most vehicle laws. Follow above link for a reader friendly list of bike laws. Follow this link for a link to ODOT’s summary.

Combining your Commute with Public Transit or Car/Van Pool

Commuting to work by Bicycle does not have to consist only of pedaling. Many bicycle commuters ride to their bus stops and take their bicycles with them utilizing special bicycle racks built into Yamhill Area busses. Others ride their bikes to their designated carpool pick up areas and lock up their bikes there before continuing on their commute.

For more information on Yamhill County Public Transit and car/vanpooling availability, click here for a link to a related blog.

On Ideal Bicycles:

While many riders recommend hybrid bikes for their sturdy frames, general durability and thicker tires, it is really just up to you!  Any bike that you enjoy commuting on is the bike for you. Additionally, many bikes are available with small electric motors that can assist with pedaling and possible bike trailers can greatly increase your carrying capacity. For more on commuting bicycles, click here.

Furthermore, there are special folding bicycles that are available fairly inexpensively. These range from very small single speeds to larger bikes and multi-speeds.

Touring By Bicycle: The Ultimate Pedaling Vacation Adventure

Bicycle touring is an often non-competitive form of cycling in which riders ride for prolonged periods of time (sometimes spanning over several days) and over longer distances. Many riders equip their bikes with various rack and trailer accessories to allow for them to pack along food, overnight gear and clothing for multi-day adventures.

The Willamette Valley is home to several widely popular and publicized trails/routes, one being the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway . Additionally, bike routes and guides along the Oregon coast have been thoroughly developed. For a link to a Oregon Coast Biking Guide click here.

Warmshowers.org: This is one of the better touring bicyclist networking sites. With over 15718 members spanning the globe, it offers touring riders the opportunity to connect with members willing to host them. Hosting a traveling rider often involves lending them a extra room, but many times hosting members allow for camping on their property. For more info, visit the site and make an account.

The Bike Thief: How Many Bikes are Stolen Each Year?

* In 2004, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported an estimated 6,947,685 “larceny/thefts” of which bicycle thefts accounted for 3.6 percent, or more than 250,000. The average value of a stolen bike was estimated at $240, which represents a total estimated loss due to bicycle thefts of more than $60 million. However, the National Bike Registry estimates that 1.5 million bicycles are stolen each year; the vast majority going unreported.(source:  http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/faqs/answer.cfm?id=43)

How to Protect Your Bike

While it is most safe to take your bicycle indoors with you and never to leave it out at night, there are many precautions that can be taken to reduce the risk of being the victim of bike theft. Following are some tips and links to better prepare you for war with the infamous bike thief.

Follow this link to a great guide to locking your bike.

http://freewheelbike.com/articles/locking-your-bike-pg286.htm

For those who have already fallen victim to the bike thief, you can recover at a number of support groups.

http://www.ihateyoubikethief.com/

Unfortunately, there are some bike thieves that no lock can deter….