Green Guide for the Little Guy

The voice of a million people singing in harmony is a great chorus. Now imagine the strength of the collective voice that will be achieved by the green chorus. When we focus together through prayers, meditations and affirmations our desires may turn to surrender.

Is that an inflammatory word? Why would we want to become overpowered by the strength of the very thing that we oppose? The waters of life have taught us the lesson of surrender.

When an object blocks the natural path of water, the result is that the water tries to continue to flow and finds a way to continue its cycle of state transformations. In a liquid state water may lay upon the surface of stone awaiting the cold. As the liquid crystallizes and takes the solid form it expands and the angles of alignment change.

This expansion by state transformation erodes and cracks the stone. In subsequent cycles the water will seep through the cracks to eventually move minerals into collections and formations. It creates caverns and caves.

The interaction of the water and the rock filters the water, erodes the rock into soil, and created shelters used by animals and humans as refuge from the changing elements.

It is not trite to believe in enjoying the gifts of this existence while preserving it for
the future. We do not want our own children to suffer the pain and anguish of broken peace. The strong voices crying for blood vexes the existence of all life promoting acts. It could shock the planet to its core.

If we are going to create a refuge for life it is time to start promoting life affirming choices. To make the choice to promote life resides at the heart of sacrifice. The sacrifices are small for the actual rewards.

o know where you are going – a list of errands becomes the tool – walk for any errands 1 km radius from home

o use natural cleaners at home – no aerosols ever – vinegar baking soda, salt and lemon juice before trying a chemical solution

o buy local food options first – support healthy choices – use as many organic unprocessed foods as possible – preservatives are chemicals

o unplug the microwave – we don’t know its long term effects

o use what is at hand – learn to be resource driven – give quick fixes a pass

o making a healthier future is more important than any monetary treasure – money and prestige are creations of humans – nature is creation by a larger force – this force will overpower us all; at our death we will be expelled from life by this very force

o try going media free for a set period of time – no propaganda

o take your plastics to be recycled and use more glass and ceramics

o replace clothing, furnishings, supplies, and car with options that support a healthier environment – bamboo and hemp clothing – natural food dyes – organic body, bath and spa products – hybrid and ethanol vehicles

The choices of the present will determine the availability to have a choice in the future. I lay down the gauntlet to us all that we may broaden the avenue of choice for all that come after. By our example of mature care the future could still be a place of great promise.

A Guide To Green Fabrics: New Book Educates Consumers On Going Green

An informed consumer is a true friend of the environment. But with the quantity of information floating about both online and through word-of-mouth, those wanting to make wise alternatives can very easily be overwhelmed and misled.

Thankfully, a brand new guide is out there to help! Calling itself the “ultimate eco-fiber reference guide for textiles professionals, design students, fashion and interior designers, product manufactures, and home sewers who want more environmentally responsible fabric options,”A Guide to Green Fabrics by Kristene Smith is a comprehensive tour guide to eco-friendly fabrics. I personally appreciate that this really is genuinely a book for everyone whether or not you are a member of a knitting circle or an aspiring fashion designer. We can all make a difference with our fabric choice.

As Smith states, “The textiles and apparel industry, with its massive economic engine, touches every life. From clothes and bedding to car interiors and medical supplies, textiles are indeed woven into our collective fabric of life.” The production of textiles affects every person from the farmers who grow the crop to the factory worker that readies the fabric for the consumer who buys it. Smith acknowledges that a lot of consumers lack an overall understanding of how textiles impact the environment so “textile producers must take the lead in promoting these new innovations to attract like-minded consumers and their resources, and to educate customers on the benefits of going green.”

This quite informative book is comprehensive and easy to navigate having a well-organized table of contents that separates chapters by fabric type from abaca to wild nettle. And inside the chapter, Smith talks about production, fabric traits along with the environmental impacts and positive aspects of each and every fabric.

What earned bamboo a spot in this book as both an eco-friendly and consumer-friendly fabric? Green Guide breaks it down into an effortless bullet point list of characteristics:

  • Abrasion resistant, non-irritating
  • 300% more absorbent than cotton
  • Does not need agricultural tending, tractors or planting devices
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Biodegradable (mechanical production only)
  • Breathable, thermal regulating, cool
  • Deodorizes, keeps you odor free and smelling fresh
  • Outstanding draping qualities, much like silk
  • Takes well to dyes
  • More elastic than cotton
  • Enriches the soil
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Insulating, keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter
  • Naturally lustrous, similar to silk
  • Grows without need for pesticides or fertilizers
  • Avoids pilling and shrinkage
  • Resilient and durable
  • Extremely soft, silky hand, feels like cashmere
  • Naturally strong fiber
  • Sustainable resource, grows plentifully
  • Naturally UV resistant
  • Exceptional moisture wicking abilities

Beyond the bullet points, Smith takes time to clarify every single characteristic. By way of example, the anti-bacterial property is attributed towards the presence of a bio-agent referred to as bamboo kun that is bound tightly to the bamboo’s cellulose molecular structure making bamboo fabric a great selection for towels, bedding and organic baby clothing.

Smith also tackles a controversy, one that continues on between bamboo producers and the FTC, and that is the one relating to the manufacturing of bamboo as well as the labeling of bamboo merchandise. Explaining the distinction between chemical processing and the mechanical processing, Smith makes it less difficult for consumers to read labels and advises that they look for particular certifications like Oeko-Tex to authenticate its eco-friendliness.