tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46777471173740298602024-03-19T03:10:59.830-07:00The Compact ProjectOne teenager's experiment with opting out of the consumer loop.Larkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01001213559488074175noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-71579973824157202632009-04-23T20:54:00.000-07:002009-04-23T21:10:40.959-07:00Just a quickie...Hey 'yall.<br />Its been a while, and unfortunately, I do not have the time for a proper post at this very second. However I have popped on real quick to make a request of all my dedicated fellow Compactors.<br />It's the home stretch for me (6 weeks left!!!) and I am getting ready to create my fabulous presentation of this project. I would love to be able to include some comments from each of you. If you would like to write just a short blurb summing up your experience with the Compact, you can email or facebook them to me. I would really appreciate it!<br /><br />-LarkinLarkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01001213559488074175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-55509458144526203482009-03-24T10:45:00.000-07:002009-03-24T11:02:43.169-07:00...Another Nun's TreasureI recently came back in contact with some old friends and, not surprisingly, they've continued to do interesting, worthwhile things with their lives. For instance, Lyanda has this really warm and informative blog called <a href="http://thetanglednest.com/">Tangled Nest</a>, undoubtedly a reference to her <a href="http://lyandalynnhaupt.com/">publicized</a> penchant for birds. I highly recommend it!<br /><br />Her posting for today was so perfect for The Compact Project, I postponed my other planned topic in favor of sharing <a href="http://thetanglednest.com/2009/03/transforming-refuse-sister-monikas-amazing-market-bag/">Transforming Refuse: Sister Monika's Amazing Market Bag</a>. Enjoy! -k8-katelaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858906597235750946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-20670075559228770442009-03-08T14:43:00.000-07:002009-03-08T15:51:57.484-07:00The Cost of Communication<span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" >When asked what their favorite or most used electronic is, I would bet a lot of people would answer a cell phone. But have you ever wondered about the impact of this super important device? </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >James Katz, professor of communication and director of Rutgers University's Center for Mobile Communications Studies, says:"Current statistics indicate that two billion people currently have subscriptions for cellular phones... enough phones for one third of the planet's population. In fact, there are some countries with more cell phones than people. In the United States, 66% of the population owns a cell phone: U.S. population stands at 297 million, with 197 million cell phone users. Collectively, people spent 675 billion minutes talking on cell phones in June 2005."</span> <span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />If you take that number, 197,000,000 users, and times it by the 10 gallons of water it takes to make a single cell phone chip it becomes 1,970,000,000. Nearly 2 billion gallons of water that cannot be used for anything else, possibly ever, because the water becomes polluted with acids, chromium, solvents, various metals, and more.<br /><br />What can we do to stop this though? A few people refraining from buying cell phones doesn't seem like much help, especially since it wont stop the companies from continuing to make the phones. But there are choices: like Hi-Tech Wealth Co.'s TW S116 Solar Mobile Phone, the first solar powered phone. Or like Motorola's new W233 Renew, which is made from recycles water bottles and "offsets the carbon dioxide required to manufacture, distribute and operate the Renew through investments in renewable energy sources and reforestation."<br /><br />There are even companies coming out to help dispose of phones without putting them in landfills or places where they could do harm to the environment, many of these places can be found through the <a href="http://www.chicagorecycling.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=81">Chicago Recycling Coalition</a>.<br /><br />But that doesn't solve the problem of waste water, does it. And honestly, I don't know what does. What I think is that, though communication is important and cell phones are very useful to have around, very few things are worth the waste they cause, not even the phones that cause it.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/forums/cell_phone_culture.htm">Cell Phone Culture</a><br /><a href="http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=3432">Corp Watch</a><br /><a href="http://news-service.stanford.edu/pr/96/960605chipsenvir.html">Standford News Service</a><br /><a href="http://greenlivingideas.com/cell-phones/eco-friendly-cell-phones.html">Green Living Ideas</a><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/technology/personaltech/12renew.html">New York Times</a></span>Larkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01001213559488074175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-49113307185519491872009-02-17T03:45:00.001-08:002009-02-18T04:53:53.552-08:00Quick note<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Greetings all!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Please pardon the long delay in posts! After Christmas, we also had Chinese New Year and with ramping down and then back up again at work, and the holiday duties in between...well, it didn't leave much time to write.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even now, I have only a quick moment to ask: did you see the "It Starts at Home" article by Peter Miller in National Geographic? Ironic of course that the print-on-paper magazine so often does articles promoting a "greener" way of life. Still, what it left me with was a profound sense of moving the world by inches. I mean, the writer talks about the trials of everyday problems that the Famn Damily and I tackled ages ago. (And of course that is why we're here trying to Compact!) It was all too clear from the style that Mr. Miller was trying to encourage people with a "its not so bad or hard" approach. Sheesh! How many more times do peopel have to hear "get floresent bulbs"? Seriously, who is still buying incandesents?!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In semi-related news, there is this article on the state of </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://72.14.235.132/search?q=cache:LKVhN7X-4SUJ:www.scmp.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp%3Fvgnextoid%3Dc45283a8d2f6f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD%26s%3DNews%26ss%3DChina+hard+yards+china&hl=zh-TW&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=hk">Chinese Consumption</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (or do a search from Google for "Hard Yards" and check out the cached page). Its striking to think that the wages of skilled workers went from around US$100 a month, up to about US$200/month and are now settling out at about US$120-150/month. There is a tsunami of more factory closings expected due to the droop of consumption in USA and Europe. The gov't here is trying to stimulate domestic buying by kicking off old fashioned building of roads, tracks, dams, etc. However, folks here are *very* conservative. When the going gets tough, people here save...even more than they do when the going is good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For myself, I am taking a big "wait and see" as well. I mean, on the one hand I actually think the adjustment (both in the Compact sense, and the overspending in The West aspects) is overdue. On the other hand, it is very, very difficult to look at the hardship that is beginnig to span the globe.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Gloomily yours nowadays,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chris</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02606264910212208590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-63568300574907173262009-02-05T11:11:00.000-08:002009-02-05T11:21:08.423-08:00love vs MS...love wins!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcfmZkNQMpIcLrcSZDFwLKdhTn2rPDHi1oW9fWyTElg5dHD8hu8RIFtQTbEFipNkK9ePkGklKn_cembMgMmJBQwlHkfJYGHez00ciDlOyXPOqrRUAfX_VwXIA0VDzrONYyVndrc91CZd_/s1600-h/cards+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcfmZkNQMpIcLrcSZDFwLKdhTn2rPDHi1oW9fWyTElg5dHD8hu8RIFtQTbEFipNkK9ePkGklKn_cembMgMmJBQwlHkfJYGHez00ciDlOyXPOqrRUAfX_VwXIA0VDzrONYyVndrc91CZd_/s320/cards+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299395350199235874" border="0" /></a><br />In the spirit of the Compact and all things crafty, this year our MS Walk team made homemade valentines out of old magazines and a couple partial sets of old children's card games. Throughout last week and through this upcoming one, various crafty dames have hunkered down at the card table and waved their rubber cement soaked magic wands and POOF! sweet, sassy, sometimes dirty valentines all magically appear. We also made little baggies of condoms and kisses to sell, which we packed in a mysterious box of 1980's Waxtex "microwave bags" which I inherited from my grandmother's estate, and decorated with Old Maid playing cards. "Rollicky Ruth", "Agile Ann", "Ready Freddy"- they all were just made to decorate so!Tina McKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16173447994150325792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-81023441614055657272009-02-03T22:45:00.000-08:002009-02-03T22:55:09.602-08:00Christmas<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7K0zn3YxkGs/SYk5jeLVUUI/AAAAAAAAODw/rXgqaH10fXI/s1600-h/cleo_monkey2_250109.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298829718136901954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7K0zn3YxkGs/SYk5jeLVUUI/AAAAAAAAODw/rXgqaH10fXI/s320/cleo_monkey2_250109.jpg" border="0" /></a> This year I gave no Christmas presents at all, not difficult to do since the rest of my family is Jewish. I myself did grow up with big gift exchanges, so I still feel guilty about not finding the perfect gift for everyone. This year I gave big checks to my three adult kids and their spouses, to keep the evil eye of layoffs far from their doors. They should have some of my money now, rather than after I am dead. Another feel-good way to celebrate the "holy days" is to give money to favorite charities. Baby Cleopatra, my granddaughter, received a toy Duc Monkey, because I gave a contribution to the World Wildlife Fund for endgangered animals. At least it is a good excuse to post a picture of her.Cleopatra's grandmotherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004768949449947033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-81367135836262420092009-02-01T13:06:00.000-08:002009-02-01T14:10:12.821-08:00the larkin lineI was so impressed with my siblings this Christmas. Because a couple of us are involved in <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLa9uAtAienyh_ooZhzHX62JgBo4IKjZf1VtVxHgDZn_rR7jcmBmzeOxadd4FtqAfGbZLndn_KApZ2Oj5X1HELC3hwx7nnpkDqTRGqOFqRUlbQw-u_H6Aj83RQOkU7LxivEQzC5XAjOy0/s1600-h/gift+certificate+for+dinner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLa9uAtAienyh_ooZhzHX62JgBo4IKjZf1VtVxHgDZn_rR7jcmBmzeOxadd4FtqAfGbZLndn_KApZ2Oj5X1HELC3hwx7nnpkDqTRGqOFqRUlbQw-u_H6Aj83RQOkU7LxivEQzC5XAjOy0/s320/gift+certificate+for+dinner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297951637481022098" border="0" /></a>Larkin's Compact Project, everyone agreed to honor the spirit of the Compact in the family gift-giving.<br /><br />For example, Sarah & Bill gave me & my husband a gift certificate for an evening with them at a fine restaurant. And Aunt Sarah gave my daughter a certificate for an afternoon of yarn shopping and lunch. These gifts are not only valued for the fun experiences, but moreover for the gift of sharing our greatest commodity--time!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQwb89VUhjnnVcIHQaK2QflLNBlOrJzrmh6V_XjJl5QFtKI9JpEmpi95RKuicO24qFGs2u3urPvWlyfcWxwaLkI_bFOCNDk162s5SNSfGoTUj7NjN2HVHvWdnp8bHsLyp7DIuJdZCv9A/s1600-h/beth+tshirts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQwb89VUhjnnVcIHQaK2QflLNBlOrJzrmh6V_XjJl5QFtKI9JpEmpi95RKuicO24qFGs2u3urPvWlyfcWxwaLkI_bFOCNDk162s5SNSfGoTUj7NjN2HVHvWdnp8bHsLyp7DIuJdZCv9A/s320/beth+tshirts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297951635620587122" border="0" /></a>My younger brother Don works for the public library AND is completing his degree in Urban Planning. So on a new year's trip down to see him in Portland, I was surprised he'd found the time to make us little jars of homemade salsa & hazelnut chocolate sauce. Yum!<br /><br />And then my sister Beth was fashionably late with her gifts--literally! She sent us homemade fashions! Taking the spirit of the Compact to a whole new level, Beth silk-screened her own art onto reclaimed shirts for every member of our family. Each shirt even came with a recycled paper tag proclaiming it to be part of the "larkin line" of clothing--check it out!<br /><br />Reading those tags made my heart swell. Not just with pride for what Larkin <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMArGh7lzaNZ3QEf84FUADdbLQcaeWaA934oCvMvD3R_pEajF3it7oV_GQi9rJJC9Y5iRGmBOD2C93XjFzC7fqUz8uWpQcnD3vElsx8G0Ywgk_7qg8508sBbzJQSnYlBBCcttTo1JboM/s1600-h/larkin+line+tag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMArGh7lzaNZ3QEf84FUADdbLQcaeWaA934oCvMvD3R_pEajF3it7oV_GQi9rJJC9Y5iRGmBOD2C93XjFzC7fqUz8uWpQcnD3vElsx8G0Ywgk_7qg8508sBbzJQSnYlBBCcttTo1JboM/s320/larkin+line+tag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297951630040082114" border="0" /></a>started, but for what a little thing like this can do to effect change in others. I was thinking about what this year-long commitment means, really. As in, after a year, do we all just go back to how we used to consume? I'd be curious about what the other Compacters feel about this, but my sense is that it would be impossible for me to go back. It's like I know too much now, or something. I've rethought & reworked my routines, I've seen how it can be done, and usually as well or better. I see how much money and, oddly, time I save overall. I see what a difference it makes. I've simply become too aware & intentional a consumer to ever go back. I think that the only thing that will change for me when the year is over is that I won't be telling myself I "can't" solve my need/want problem with a brand new solution. I'll instead be telling myself I "choose not to" most of the time.<br /><br />When I think about that, I realize that this is so much bigger than one year, or handmade cards, or super hip reclaimed fashion...it's a lifestyle change. Isn't the ultimate declaration of faith to live as you would have it be? I just don't want to be part of promoting a consumer-based society. Can't we come up with something new as our country's raison d'etre? -k8-katelaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858906597235750946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-5303327846336526642009-01-22T17:11:00.000-08:002009-01-22T18:28:08.581-08:00Requiem to a ShoeWhat do you do with those old sneakers when they have outlived their glory days? I'm not <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgkfgDTVU4O_QxYl6MDY5D2c8X8A8YEnKgWFVJFXSQ7hn6zeP6g25rVe1xnSDE_ypxqsGsn6yN1vSNCxFAMFW4zrY0oUlhrl__ZXshH9Dp0ol2P2W09iVCQPNy0tGm6RSY3Nc-Yfxevni/s1600-h/0122091729.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgkfgDTVU4O_QxYl6MDY5D2c8X8A8YEnKgWFVJFXSQ7hn6zeP6g25rVe1xnSDE_ypxqsGsn6yN1vSNCxFAMFW4zrY0oUlhrl__ZXshH9Dp0ol2P2W09iVCQPNy0tGm6RSY3Nc-Yfxevni/s200/0122091729.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294296156168298130" border="0" /></a>talking nice expensive shoes you wore a few times and don't want any more. I'm talking about the shoes you've had for years, like since the dinosaurs roamed the earth. The fit-like-you've-never-taken-them-off, smell-like-you've-never-taken-them-off, more-hole-than-shoe shoes. Uh-huh, you know what I'm taking about.<br /><br />I've had these shoes (to the right) for four years, and I wore them right up until the left sole became completely detached from the body. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get rid of them; sure I could just toss them in the trash, but what a waste! Plus, everywhere that accepts donations is restricted to "gently used items," which these shoes most defiantly aren't.<br /><br />But there is a solution! <a href="http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/">Nike Reuse-a-Shoe</a> collects old shoes and makes them into tracks and playing fields for schools and communities.<br />"<span style="font-family:arial;">Clean out your closet, take a peek under the bed and ask your friends and family – chances are, you'll find a few pairs of kicks lying around that have seen better days.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">When it's time to say goodbye, bring your athletic shoes to any Reuse-A-Shoe drop-off location – there are more than 300 around the world... Keep in mind, an individual person can bring up to 10 pairs of shoes at one time – more might overwhelm our collection bins.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">If you're not near a drop-off location, you can also mail your worn-out sneakers to our recycling facility – but please, only mail your shoes if you have to, as shipping small numbers of shoes to our facility creates a larger carbon footprint.</span>"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRvFehlObkVQkNC-918qyQ5F229zUoMnJCoLZmnjiBuw1PrLpoOnj3E5iR-6VyiikKFYS-6DmiUBMXK6K_2JLLf_GXxBdJHkI2V3McSjpg9LbzYt1GdYH9F8_P0XEemdZo_vd4oLUfa65/s1600-h/0122091751.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRvFehlObkVQkNC-918qyQ5F229zUoMnJCoLZmnjiBuw1PrLpoOnj3E5iR-6VyiikKFYS-6DmiUBMXK6K_2JLLf_GXxBdJHkI2V3McSjpg9LbzYt1GdYH9F8_P0XEemdZo_vd4oLUfa65/s200/0122091751.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294301765911223506" border="0" /></a>Well what about those not-so-gently used <span style="font-style: italic;">clothes</span>, you ask? The picture on the left is of a jacket I have had since 6th grade, that makes it 6 years old, and I got it at a value village, so who knows how old it really is. Having lived through so many years of Seattle rain, frequent falling over, and my more recent interaction with a door jam, it doesn't resemble a nice leather coat anymore, so much as a severely botched experiment. Multiple severely botched experiments. While I am finally resigned to buying a new coat this weekend (at the local Goodwill) I cannot bring myself to toss this one out, at least not in the trash. <a href="http://www.retexnorthwest.com/default.htm">Retex Northwes</a><a href="http://www.retexnorthwest.com/default.htm">t</a>, in Mill Creek, Washington accepts donations of "<span style="font-family: arial;">unwanted cloths, shoes, backpacks and other textiles,</span>" in any condition. "<span style="font-family: arial;">Collected textiles and shoes are shipped to overseas grading stations where they are sorted by size, season, gender, and condition... then shipped to countries which are experiencing severe shortages of even the most basic clothing. Garments which are no longer wearable can be made into 'rags' or pulled apart and reprocessed into fibers for paper, upholstery, and insulation materials. Cloths which can’t be recycled are composted whenever possible. Less than 5% of the unused clothing will end up as solid waste.</span>"Larkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01001213559488074175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-37745546496995034382009-01-09T21:12:00.000-08:002009-01-09T21:54:01.534-08:00Not your mother's reclaimed art!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsuWVkCt_hsxSxNqJ7GFn2t_b3L4QKn8GHts5iFMAXGatY9pfUsShGO3SdGZ4J76Pgz6LW4j1jvcHaC7KUG410-RxVUXgZ87vEs8Wpt17a8QAMA0pl0fpkSvwicTwbNKf6e2sa-Rz2vY0/s1600-h/eraser.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289538968091407762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsuWVkCt_hsxSxNqJ7GFn2t_b3L4QKn8GHts5iFMAXGatY9pfUsShGO3SdGZ4J76Pgz6LW4j1jvcHaC7KUG410-RxVUXgZ87vEs8Wpt17a8QAMA0pl0fpkSvwicTwbNKf6e2sa-Rz2vY0/s200/eraser.jpg" border="0" /></a> I recently spent a day at Seattle's <a href="http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/OSP/AboutOSP/default.asp">Olympic Sculpture Park</a>, taking picture for a photography final. But it got me thinking.... Seattle has this huuuge expanse of land set aside for no reason besides the beauty of artistic form. I wonder how many other cities have this same (or similar) love for artistic form?<br /><br />Well, there is a place in Portland, Oregon called <a href="http://www.rebuildingcenter.org/">The Rebuilding Center</a>, which is "a project of Our United Villages, is vibrant resource working to strengthen the environmental, economic, and social fabric of local communities. Founded by volunteers in 1998, The Rebuilding Center is the nation’s largest non-profit reuse center for salvaged construction and remodeling materials." Within the Community Gathering Space at the RC, is a unique project: a three-story tall tree sculpture of trees made from recycled metal and donated objects.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89meYLKtNygM5D2gIvxgyyQ5Wi_6VO6oM1GwMdEAXv1MZIo4AjL1Ztbo9BtsZIfcq7CFWSTHetdXiyiiyakxUpBAq7X4cAyw3kxn62kbavPl5hq_vb06QP33E1kTBAMScceNBdpbezD2f/s1600-h/Mikesuri.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289538144429909106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 227px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 197px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89meYLKtNygM5D2gIvxgyyQ5Wi_6VO6oM1GwMdEAXv1MZIo4AjL1Ztbo9BtsZIfcq7CFWSTHetdXiyiiyakxUpBAq7X4cAyw3kxn62kbavPl5hq_vb06QP33E1kTBAMScceNBdpbezD2f/s200/Mikesuri.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27983991@N05/sets/72157605811626844/"><em>Community Trees</em></a>, an art installation made by Suri Iron Shop for The Rebuilding Center, "<span >features cob tree trunks topped with branches and leaves crafted from reclaimed metal and household objects donated by community members."</span><br /><br />Where else are there works like this? What about the Rebuilding Center, are there places of this sort in your city?<br /><br />***I must send out props to Dan B. who was the one to bring my attention to this fantastic example of recycling and art. Thank you!Larkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01001213559488074175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-86178119250926314362009-01-08T20:45:00.000-08:002009-01-08T20:58:17.316-08:00Belated Christmas Catch Up<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Happy new year to you all!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sadly, I spent much of my holiday sick and asleep. Who knew that a human could sleep 18+ hours a day for days on end?!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Be that as it may, we stuck pretty OK-ish to The Compact this year. We had to get a *few* things for the kids...especially the two younger ones who believe in Santa. Still, we mostly made cards and other projects. (Sorry to say that they went out before I could snap shots.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Among the best gifts...in my book...was a game I gave the family, "A Kingdom for Keflings." Firstly, it is a very fun little game. You are a giant, helping the Lilliputian-like Keflings build up their town. For kids, it is great because it teaches them about planning (you need to check out blue prints of the buildings the Keflings need, and get the resources lined up) and other fun life skills. Secondly, there is nothing but zeros and ones! I saw a demo version via Xbox Marketplace, checked it out, then downloaded it. No print, poster, or other ads. No discs, packaging, etc. Just entertainment...delivered straight to you, with no extras. Pretty cool!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'd also like to introduce you all to Akoha...a "play it forward" game. It is a great way to inspire and encourage random acts of kindness, and also certain social messages. Essentially, there are cards that describe a mission to complete...anything from "buy a friend a cup of coffee" to "send drinks to a couple in love" to "donate on hour of your time" and so on. When you do the mission, you give the card to the person/people you're completing it with. They can go online and you can track when, where and how that mission has gone out into the world and reached you. Read all about it at www.akoha.com. My favorite "play it forward" mission: give someone a compact flouresent a.k.a. "the Al Gore card." (BTW, if you're interested in getting a mission, just send me an email...we can exchange addresses and I'll make you part of one of mine!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A final holiday reminder (mostly to myself!)...Chinese New Year is right around the corner. While not as consumer-focused as Christmas, we'll still have to be careful. Having said that, I am pretty much resigned to getting some things...sorry! We are having the entire family over and we are simply going to need a few things...even just entertaining things.</span><br /><br />All the best!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02606264910212208590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-59545081106321794182009-01-01T19:34:00.001-08:002009-01-01T19:41:26.040-08:00from Albuquerque NM<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iBUcZcxoki4/SV2L4ROIjQI/AAAAAAAAAAM/Q9pRpiHUtso/s1600-h/kate2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286535336414448898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iBUcZcxoki4/SV2L4ROIjQI/AAAAAAAAAAM/Q9pRpiHUtso/s320/kate2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I wanted to share with everyone a thank you card that I made from the Larkin & Kate family Christmas card which was posted on the blog Dec. 15th. I also used another card and some left over paper from another project. Happy New Year. LynnA</div>LynnAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311798342160524347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-1411621517081660702008-12-29T14:11:00.000-08:002008-12-29T15:56:51.182-08:00Urban Deceit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkwma834WmrauyELqtIXrzaTgbnH5o3zCPOc9PDcDj58grjK3Tp3A8zYhKLcNAivIRRtZ6kdLHPcRYw6HPK_CLIEadJ6eGl_Xe3JqnVSJFGKy48X7mNSqNXZNqwgFRgL8KERE99ke3nR8/s1600-h/15359383_10_b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285361942120595666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 209px; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkwma834WmrauyELqtIXrzaTgbnH5o3zCPOc9PDcDj58grjK3Tp3A8zYhKLcNAivIRRtZ6kdLHPcRYw6HPK_CLIEadJ6eGl_Xe3JqnVSJFGKy48X7mNSqNXZNqwgFRgL8KERE99ke3nR8/s320/15359383_10_b.jpg" border="0" /></a>Urban Outfitters: a haven of the "alternative." Known especially for their artistic t-shirts, this international company flaunts the style that almost all teens and twenty-somethings long for. Even I have gazed longingly through the window at the new and interesting styles that I can only dream of creating myself.<br /><br />Last night I was at the reunion concert of an awesome local band, <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=127931137">Uncommon Knowledge</a>. After the show, my friend went up and complimented the singer/guitarist's shirt. After thanking her, he mentioned that it was from Urban Outfitters.<br /><br />This reminded me of a few months ago, when I was glancing at an article online and was scandalized by what I read. Not only does the owner of Urban Outfitters contribute to some politicians I find personally objectionable, he holds the classic defeatist attitude toward where he gets his products. The complete article can be found at <a href="http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=5725">The Philadelphia Weekly,</a> but here's some pertinent information:<br /><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">"Yes, says Hayne, nearly all of Urban Outfitters' apparel is manufactured in Third World sewing shops--just like nearly all of the clothing sold in this country. If Urban Outfitters relied on domestic union labor, says Hayne, most of his customers could not afford the price he would have to charge to turn a profit. All things being relative, he says, Urban Outfitters does not contract with any sewing shops that are overtly inhumane or exploitive. </span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify;font-family:arial;" > </p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" face="arial"><span style="font-family:arial;">'Years ago I visited one of the factories we work with in India, and there was 500 people standing in a line three people deep stretching around the building,' he recalls. 'I said to the foreman, "What's going on?" He told me they were all applicants for the four positions they had open. I toured that facility and it was reasonably clean--for India. And it was reasonably well-lit--again, for India. And yes, it was mostly young women working there. But it is my understanding that the only other option those women had to feed their families was selling their bodies. So I don't want to hear people from the suburbs with their fat American stomachs telling people in other countries how to run their societies.' </span><span style="font-family:arial;">"</span> </p><p></p><p>While I find this funnily ironic, I am also slightly disturbed. Many people I know, including friends and relatives, shop at this store. Do they know where those products are coming from, and do they know how the company spends its profits? </p><p></p><p>Let this serve as a reminder for us all. When we buy new, we are perpetuating a cycle that we may not want to actually be a part of. Purchase with intention!</p>Larkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01001213559488074175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-26866546231688190182008-12-27T11:02:00.000-08:002008-12-27T11:13:32.316-08:00Happy Holidays from ABQ, NM.<br />Kate, loved the photo of the ultimate in recycled holiday cards. I will make it a point to save cardboard and Sharpies for next year, just in case. As for traditional cards, I was wondering if the city would recycle all this shinny cardstock when I noticed a blurb in the newspaper that St. Jude Ranch for Children will turn old holiday cards into new ones. Send card fronts to the organization at 100 St. Jude's St., Boulder City, NV 89006. The program ends February 28. I am all over this idea. I will be keeping some of my cards to create a different card for another occasion. For example, Kate, I am taking your family card and turning it into a thank you card for Dave (your father-in-law and my brother-in-law) and Jim-- I am excited to see how it turns out. I will try to insert a picture in my next post.<br /><br />Also, I have been searching the web to learn more about the Compact Project. I am not sure what it says about me but I enjoy, usually with eyebrows raised, the ironies of life. On the Freecycle site, there is a tab labeled as "store". Turns out, you can buy *new* stuff on that site displaying the freecycle logo. Well, I guess they have to get revenue somehow, as in the end, nothing is really "free".<br />Happy New Year. LynnALynnAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311798342160524347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-17930081070623160272008-12-25T10:40:00.000-08:002008-12-25T10:57:15.527-08:00a recession yuletideMerry Christmas, everyone! I'd like to celebrate this day on the Compact Project by sharing 2 wonderful gifts, one from this year, and one from many years ago.<br /><br />First off is the BEST homemade Christmas card I have ever received, hands down. And I've made a lot of them...but this one wins the show due to the brilliant simplicity in using corrugated cardboard and a Sharpie marker. The back is done postcard style.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283801461384656146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0gmzflo-iFR1Oe6BdLtvQblXzNRfDIPYDyncpfZpjFKresTq8O_uFiVCsoD9L__C6apwSNI73q4pIPBbz_yawfIpmCHKldaMf8av2lpqbTyqieN-IdWKbHLbqwrmK_iAOilk5QwSjtM/s400/DSC01750.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><div><div>Next up is my very favorite winter hat, made by my sister Beth (who is also a member of Larkin's experiment). The hat is a simple, fun design made from fleece, and she added a rock on the front that she'd had for many years just floating around. The great thing is that Beth made this hat for me maybe 10 years ago now...and it continues to look fabulous and warm my head. Yay for homemade! Ho ho ho!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283803192208060322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DQjHGKYurBaVSovLAwnLllbKHGxosz5Z9g0P2e0Cs2A2_SIDsMTNA4tuqvT5jd0Z3RMeXQNfvarB9yXgIfG17grXZBuiZl_iNCN4m2l6dtdPAiUmjfNc5ZYlgeXWKX9CPLQE_M_0_eY/s400/DSC01764.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yc41spfHhRqRqmC-1rMDV4b5jUlDK6QRiwtk53cscVCaI8kK2GAQe_MQkvvE5iPf3BCsgP4sUWVyKocfJeBaUEcvT3ql5H51lynh_7Oh028uDVk6yNyS81aVb2bzAEN4n5cf3k6mEY8/s1600-h/DSC01760.JPG"></a></div></div></div></div></div>katelaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858906597235750946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-49678223974853255302008-12-22T19:13:00.000-08:002008-12-22T19:44:30.767-08:00Compact: CompostThanks Mom for that last post, and the question you raised: "I'm wondering how common this is becoming...does your city provide composting services? Seattle composts, so if you pay for yard waste removal with your garbage service, they'll also take & use your food waste." And thank you to Clark for that comment. For those who missed it, he said that in Evanston, IL (outside of Chicago) there is no "kitchen waste" composting and even the composting of yard waste has been discontinued due to "funding, odor, and rodent issues." So, I was wondering how Seattle handles our compost in a way to avoid these issues as much as possible.<br /><br />I found the answer at <a href="http://www.worldchanging.com/">www.worldchanging.com</a>:<br /><br />"City staffers deliver residential compostable material to the Cedar Grove plant north of Everett (Cedar Grove staff manages the collection for commercial operations). After initially collecting in the tipping room (where truckloads are unloaded), materials travel along a conveyor belt, where metal and plastics are removed. The waste is then formed into piles and covered.<br /><br />Cedar Grove uses <a href="http://www.cedar-grove.com/systems/default.htm" target="new"><span style="color:#000000;">GoreTM Cover Membrane Laminate Technology</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">,</span> a system of specialized covers, and regularly monitors temperature and moisture in the compost heaps. The high heat achieved in Cedar Grove's large-scale processing kills any weeds and pathogens, and also meets the standards for organic certification. After the two-stage heat aging process (approximately 21 and 30-45 days respectively), bagged compost is aged for an additional 18 months to ensure quality. Bulk compost is aged 6 to 12 months.<br /><br />Finally, the bags of organic compost are delivered to stores around Seattle, where residents can purchase the natural fertilizer for use in their own yards. For homeowners, landscapers, gardeners, organizations like <a href="http://www.seattletilth.org/" target="new"><span style="color:#000000;">Seattle Tilth</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">,</span> and others, this would-be waste has become a wonderful resource!"<br /><br />And from an article in <a href="http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20031230&slug=foodwaste30m0"><span style="color:#000099;">The Seattle Times</span></a>, I learned something very interesting. In San Fransisco, the birthplace of the Compact, they had composting nearly perfected as far back as 2003. "...food waste travels a 150-mile loop from restaurant to composting facility to vineyard and back. 'We're closing the nutrient loop and keeping food from just wasting in a landfill,' said Jack Macy, who runs San Francisco's food-recycling program."<br /><br />I encourage Compacters and Compact followers alike to look into their city's compost program and find out how they can help to <em>reduce</em> in this fundamental way. If your city does not offer composting, starting your own program is easy. Many ways of composting can be found at <a href="http://www.seattletilth.org/">www.seattletilth.org</a>.Larkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01001213559488074175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-37717699186204518682008-12-15T09:14:00.000-08:002008-12-15T09:47:34.914-08:00Christmas CreativityI love that post about touring a paper factory in China, especially hearing that they were busy making our Independence Day party supplies...oh, the irony!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80HxIov7NGfe3wtfa7IfU6Y0W_9_HEsLiLstNITazAmr7bAfK3W9uVscRf-1VMKbPTBIxmP31_Qx0aqZxVxGDWrcrt62gNyi0zIHd6tMrnoTcD99LsqLhrxpu2WVW08WtJi7VGFyy5qI/s1600-h/card+inside.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div>His colleague's comment about the napkins being so unsanitary made me think about how there are still so many people who will, without a thought, grab for the paper napkins & towels all day long. Dab the side of the mouth, toss the paper. Wipe up a slight drip, toss the paper. And this is paper that can't be recycled. Cloth napkins are SO easy to come by & way more effective for nearly any job. Thrift stores are always full of colorful napkins and kitchen towels. And napkins are about the easiest thing to sew out of any absorbent fabric. </div><br /><div>Question. I'm wondering how common this is becoming...does your city provide composting services? Seattle composts, so if you pay for yard waste removal with your garbage service, they'll also take & use your food waste. I love that. It also gives you something more productive to do with those dirty paper napkins & towels...they may not be recyclable, but they are compostable (depending on what you cleaned up). </div><br /><div>On a related paper-saving note, we took our Christmas cards to a new level this year. We usually make our own, so this time, in honor of Larkin's Compact Project we set a rule: make them with only supplies we already have around the house--buy nothing. Luckily, we're a crafty family, so we had plenty of supplies to work with. I have the remainder of a box of 500 recycled #10 envelopes, so we started with the assumption that this would be our card size & worked out from there. It also had to be a simple design, as we send over 50 cards to family & friends scattered around the world. I think they turned out nice. If you haven't received yours yet, act surprised when you get it! -k8-<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280074713494454962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 149px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDOckG6FPSuUPctUY3ycV1z_IfUOAnbOKWHrl9Nm4nezeXVgG31TQNF0foIaZJkycmwCWAaW3d7PTWSm5OGFR2fm08k8OKDO08VlU3nJIgMzLVoyTfE3IkcIYpg6WKYh2E4O7Cvu8xdk/s320/card+front.jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZ4JSA8BemCLopn6PBrXljP61W3j3vEXF4f-mD43sljS5my0HO__GMsszTw76bkPGVeZ7O3P-LCX7Jnyb-N_5TasEeeXYOV863H8K7HNEJwleCueG_L405glho5FEx16yCkZIch0RWXY/s1600-h/card+front.jpg"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280074285598092882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 28px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ErocWNdv2mSwkkxLVBcOnANYg0EUiti_houYX_eg-bJz7xC4E9DNWz29BdFdMmFvCIMbff4rWotyfyH2LBopCdRDk0pYfXwyZrpD1nAvzKSe5RH5k64AMO0Zp69b8QLN6XTiEgFbixc/s400/card+inside.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div>katelaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858906597235750946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-20896907156998572322008-12-15T01:12:00.000-08:002008-12-15T01:50:51.991-08:00Paper, Paper everwhere...not a scrap to note!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQF5WXJgaWRD_0zfO_4ibL5arLDOsBFiqP5_yeD4EI6hCH9RNsZixBRxor8rPuVV_UHLUK8bjADc-R_IQLCIlFp2Ype6i0e3my5WRHKAYJ5uoE_cyF3c0mMDOGyXiOfdb8vvFAsqlgUQ/s1600-h/Jolly-Green-Giant-Post-It-O.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQF5WXJgaWRD_0zfO_4ibL5arLDOsBFiqP5_yeD4EI6hCH9RNsZixBRxor8rPuVV_UHLUK8bjADc-R_IQLCIlFp2Ype6i0e3my5WRHKAYJ5uoE_cyF3c0mMDOGyXiOfdb8vvFAsqlgUQ/s320/Jolly-Green-Giant-Post-It-O.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279951997120313506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Greetings all</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What can I say? The headline is a lie. If anything, there was more paper and scraps to note down <span style="font-style: italic;">War & Peace</span>...about a hundred million times. You see, I had an opportunity to visit two giant paper, stationary and playing card presses in central China. It is hard to describe the scale here, folks. To say "huge" would be to compare the pulp plant to a skyscraper...but it is bigger by far. More like a half-mile city block. To say "big" would be to compare the presses to a bus...but they were bigger too. More like a convoy. To say "lengthy" would be to compare the cutting, assembly and packaging lines to a walk in the park. But it took over two hours for each fast-paced tour.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And here is what I kept thinking through the whole thing: What a lot of waste! Take the legal pads being spun off at several thousand an hour. Imagine them going to all those stationary stores, and into people's briefcases and meetings. They get whipped out and a thought or two is scribbled on them, likely transferred to an email and...tragedy of tragedies...thrown away. I can't escape this image of a giant beast who gobbles up and later excretes giant loads of yellow...yellow...yellow...gunk.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As interesting was the "party" division that was part of the tour. They were spinning off napkins for July 4th. Beyond the irony of communist China supplying the mountain of Independence Day cups, napkins, hats, etc. was the delicious comment of my Chinese colleague, "I'll never use another paper napkin!" "Why?" I puzzled. "This is just so unsanitary!" I could see his point...an operating room it ain't.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What was just as interesting was when I got back from my trip, it turns out my daughter was learning about the paper process too. For homework she cut up a bunch of paper and soaked it in water for three days, then took that cellulose soup to school. Everyone then turned their mushy mess into another sheet of rough paper. It got me thinking...it may be easier to re-use that scrap than I thought and I'm going to give it a try. Stay tuned!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXkQh74fCziHZ4HoiXmn7g8r0sF-YYOBS4YUH4etoT9o1-NJfyq3Fbzqae7lG0JGKjzly0W__1xgMCdUMnv9mq2o_PsBzs5NSchX32iqYot8b5lxwAGe_lF3H6FG49u9Wle00-p_qVOE/s1600-h/Proud-Mary-Keep-On-Burning.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXkQh74fCziHZ4HoiXmn7g8r0sF-YYOBS4YUH4etoT9o1-NJfyq3Fbzqae7lG0JGKjzly0W__1xgMCdUMnv9mq2o_PsBzs5NSchX32iqYot8b5lxwAGe_lF3H6FG49u9Wle00-p_qVOE/s320/Proud-Mary-Keep-On-Burning.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279951067407120802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anyway, perhaps noting the scale of the production will help you scale your consumption. For me, around my house and even in our office, we re-use paper a lot. We take envelopes and cut them for notes. We turn paper over and re-print on it for internal purposes, or at least cut it up for scratch paper. I hope that you are considering something similar! For beyond the "no buying" objectives...I try to use the "no waste" rule. After all, who wants to get that yellow stream all over them? (Oh, how I love puns...sorry to gross anyone out!)<br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02606264910212208590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-87779259687770203522008-12-14T17:59:00.000-08:002008-12-14T18:05:24.402-08:00on the hunt!hi guys! what a busy time of the year! does anyone have any ideas about where a girl could get some used/recycled curtain rods or perhaps some advice about how to make some that will actually stay up with the curtains on them? my attempts have all failed!<br /><br />i am fighting the vast temptation of getting a ride to ace hardware (who by the way are cooperatively owned!) and whipping out the visa, but it is so cold and the curtains need to go up soon!<br /><br />muchas gracias in advance for any and all advice! happy homemade holidays everybody!Tina McKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16173447994150325792noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-45529042942545539732008-12-11T20:25:00.000-08:002008-12-15T09:49:19.117-08:00Hey Y'all!<br /><br />I'm sorry it's been so long. I have been very busy in the last couple weeks, with school, work, school, musical auditions, school, college applications, and reading Hamlet.... for school. Yes, this is the life.<br /><br />While reading the food article posted by Chris a thought struck me. Organic food is tasty, more so perhaps than .... <em>other</em> food with the sense of well being it gives you being even better, knowing you are both helping the environment and avoiding those nasty chemicals. And <em>local</em> organic food is even better, as Chris said: reducing the "giant carbon footprint"... and how more local can you get than your own back yard? (Or front yard, side yard, patio... etc.)<br /><br />Of course, you say, it is nearly Winter and what silly person tries to grow anything in the snow/wet/cold? It is much easier to drive down to the national chain superstore a few miles away. Of course it is! But we are not doing this for easy: We are doing this for change.<br /><br />That being said, feel free to check out <a href="http://www.wintergardeningtips.com/">this website</a> devoted to gardening in the fall and winter.<br /><br />And for those of you who are still unwilling to get down on your knees in the snow and freeze your hands off for the sake of a few carrots (and believe me, I understand!), check out <a href="http://www.all-about-planters.com/articles/planters_winter.html">this introduction</a> to planter gardening in winter.<br /><br />Happy Gardening! ~Larkin<br /><a href="http://www.wintergardeningtips.com/"></a>Larkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01001213559488074175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-65186489360769192292008-12-04T21:13:00.000-08:002008-12-04T21:33:20.570-08:00Clippings!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Greetings all,</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I thought these articles on local food were interesting, and thought you might like them too. (click headline for full story)<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/02/arts/trengland.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> Organic restaurants where only diners come from afar, by Henry Skukman</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br />Thoreau observed that humans are happily designed in such a way that the distance they can cover in a day's walking means that were they to spend every day hiking in a different direction from their homestead, it would take a lifetime to get to know every corner of their surround<br /><br />Any region can use a patron saint, and in England's West Country, that saint is Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (aka Hugh Fearlessly Eats-It-All). One of Britain's top TV chefs, Fearnley-Whittingstall is on a near-holy mission to return to the land. He had his first success with a show called "A Cook on the Wild Side," in which he traveled around cooking up game and wild plants on his camping stove.<br /><br />A truly organic restaurant today needs a field of local suppliers. What good is an organic carrot or blueberry with a giant carbon footprint? Just as farmers' markets are spreading, so too is local-mindedness in restaurants. It's not just about carbon, but a deeper connectedness between people and land.<br /><br />The kind of self-reliance a household would have known before the advent of processed and packaged foods, when good husbandry included knowledge of how to process food oneself, is precisely what Fearnley-Whittingstall is trying to revive.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/04/healthscience/04meat.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">From Hoof to Table, by Elisabeth Rosenthal</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />The cows and pigs dotting these flat green plains in the southern Netherlands create a bucolic landscape. But looked at through the lens of greenhouse gas accounting, they are living smokestacks, spewing methane emissions into the air.<br /><br />That is why a group of farmers-turned-environmentalists here at a smelly but impeccably clean research farm have a new take on making a silk purse from a sow's ear: They cook manure from their 3,000 pigs to capture the methane trapped within it, and then use the gas to make electricity for the local power grid.<br /><br />Rising in the fields of the environmentally conscious Netherlands, the Sterksel project is a rare example of fledgling efforts to mitigate the heavy emissions from livestock. But much more needs to be done, scientists say, as more and more people are eating more meat around the world.</span><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02606264910212208590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-16472396756146125232008-12-04T07:18:00.000-08:002008-12-04T07:42:15.700-08:00Hello Larkin and fellow bloggers:<br /><br />By way of introduction, my name is Lynn and I am married to John (Larkin's grandfather's younger :-) brother). We live in Albuquerque, NM. I have intrepidly joined the group and I anticipate and look forward to many challenges in the endeavor to reduce clutter, recycle, and learn to live more sustainably. Just today, I was at Office Max buying envelopes (for 15% off) & I thought, how would you not buy envelopes for a year? I shop some at thrift stores and I have never seen envelopes. However, John found this wonderful, old lamp at Thrift Town once and he rewired it and I use it on my desk. Having said that, we are "good consumers," if you know what I mean, and I will be challenged by the road ahead. I have already started to think differently in terms of purchases. This holiday season we will be giving some homemade treats, but alas, they will be in new Tupperware (did you guys know they still make Tupperware!); what can I say, I got to start somewhere. Also, we will be sending out hand made cards (a project I started last summer). In summary, I must say, that I am all for buying new underwear, as Larkin mentioned we could do in one of her posts. Larkin, I admire your “Senior Project” and I will acquire inspiration from you in the months ahead. Mas tarde. lynnaLynnAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311798342160524347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-88357877923716340182008-12-02T04:04:00.000-08:002008-12-02T05:00:07.058-08:00What an occaision...my first post!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGshuYdNwk-VXn9xXpz2cT_wq9oDdjywMjpXADBlgguijKI2ykCLM8KltbD3Y2jCY0Hm5JhrFVA6J9VVrMhK44zrJwhR4DD9w_O_OmBfQZ30BYbfsRZx2xFy6U658csrhCxL-AdXfg6HM/s1600-h/Hong+Kong+IFC.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGshuYdNwk-VXn9xXpz2cT_wq9oDdjywMjpXADBlgguijKI2ykCLM8KltbD3Y2jCY0Hm5JhrFVA6J9VVrMhK44zrJwhR4DD9w_O_OmBfQZ30BYbfsRZx2xFy6U658csrhCxL-AdXfg6HM/s320/Hong+Kong+IFC.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275172663543065458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Greetings all,</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Thanks to Larkin for allowing me to post my thoughts here. I hope they are interesting to her readers, and that they spark good and fruitful discussion.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">First</span>, a bit about why I'm interested in blogging here. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Second</span>, a bit of background. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Third</span>, some thoughts on "me + Compacting."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">First</span>, I'm interested in blogging in the hopes that I'll get some helpful advice! Yep, my family and I need it. When reading about how the Compact Movement got started, I saw something of us. Hopefully you all have too, and we can learn from each other. The thing that rang true for us was that we too are fed up with recycling and other fixes that seem to fall way short. While we've tried our best, we'd still really would like some support and advice from others in changing "The Way It Is."</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second</span>, as you read the posts, you should know a few things about me and us. We're a family of five, and we live in Hong Kong. We already feel "on the path" with The Movement...even if we do give ourselves certain slack. For example, we have never owned a new car. We mostly take public transport, even though we do have a car. I can count the number of pieces of new furniture we've bought in 15+ years of marriage on two hands and still have fingers left. We go clothes shopping about every two years. We pretty much eat at home and cook our own. We do our best to go local and organic.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I wish I could say all of this was because we're so dedicated. Honestly, a lot of it is simple necessity. For example, we eat organic and local because eating food from China is just plain scary. For example, who wants to risk melmine poisoning? As for buying clothes, there aren't always the right sizes around here. (Being Caucasian, I'm a bit larger than you're average Asian, you see.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Finally</span>, we've been saving quite diligently for a house and for the kids' educations.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, in the end, I guess we're what's being called "frugalistas*." </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Considering our location - Central Command for The World's Factory - it is also interesting to compare and contrast the attitudes we run up against all the time. Some of our friends are equally frugal and concerned. Others are still dropping litter from their car windows. Its also interesting to be working with the world's factory workers and see how they live, hear their aspirations and what they think about the products they are making. I hope to share insights and information here!</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Finally, some initial thoughts on compacting: Its hard. Especially knowing what to do! For example, we have birthday parties for the kids. This year, after getting piles of junk that A) we knew was made of bad materials B) wouldn't really be played with and C) don't have space for, we thought about saying "no presents, please." However, that raised all sorts of questions and problems. "How will the kids feel when they don't get any gifts?" "What will the other parents do anyway?" (i.e. Will they listen?) "If we accept the gifts, can we give them away somehow? And how will the kids feel if they have to give them up?"<br /><br />Also, I should admit my weaknesses. I said we allow ourselves some slack! For me... I love games. Video games. I do my best to wring every penny from them, but I often buy them somewhat impulsively. I also love coffee. Starbucks coffee. I don't know what I'd do without a little walk and Starbucks break. I am on the quest for the perfect hat. I have more than one (meaning...more than I have heads for), but still wind up getting them from time to time anyway. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I am also on a quest for the perfect messenger bag. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(And no...it doesn't ruin the clothes shopping assertion above!) Seriously, these are among the tougher challenges I'll be facing in order to further decrease consumption!<br /><br />Thanks and happy reading.<br />Chris<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;" >("<span style="font-style: italic;" class="italic">frugalista</span>, defined as “a person who lives a frugal lifestyle but stays fashionable and healthy by swapping clothes, buying secondhand, growing own produce, etc." <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/magazine/23wwln-safire-t.html">On Language, by William Safire</a>)</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02606264910212208590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-15085027953681192692008-11-29T09:17:00.000-08:002008-11-29T09:56:21.666-08:00Orion Strikes Back, AgainI'm in love. Head over heels, gaga, goofy-faced-floppy-legs-gaited in love with Orion Magazine. If you have a few minutes, do check out this article about the famous* <a href="http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/3642">Crying Indian</a> ad campaign.<br /><br />*Made famous once Kate expressed her incredulity a few years ago when I said I had never seen it...Librarian Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778100869490640744noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-57191036764602848412008-11-22T11:29:00.000-08:002008-11-22T13:20:00.237-08:00The Story of Stuff--from kate--<br />I have Larkin's gramps to thank for bringing this excellent video to my attention. I encourage all readers to invest just 20 minutes watching this entertaining and enlightening piece. It explains more clearly than anything else I've found why movements such as The Compact are absolutely critical to the survival of our species and our planet. Recycling simply isn't enough; we each need to be doing more...or less, depending on how you look at it.<br /><br />Watch on, citizens! <br />Here: <a href="http://www.storyofstuff.com/">http://www.storyofstuff.com/</a><br />Or here:<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwVvRAiosbzfgJvQFB_AQMvMmo7aRBSbOfI1JiOzlMOJz-2SDkmOpD4bTv1wjROi5RabG17ik6gMSeERWzM8w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>katelaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858906597235750946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677747117374029860.post-78263395989774798442008-11-20T20:01:00.000-08:002008-11-20T20:26:01.753-08:00I had a dreamI must say, these last couple weeks have been quite a boom. This humble little project has come so far. Yet I wonder, is it far enough? I have high hopes for us, but I sometimes wonder if it all really matters. I wonder if the day will come, be it in a year or ten years, when I too will be just another of the mindless mass strolling along downtown, indulging my senses with rich Italian leather and delicate French lace.<br /><br />But that is the point, or the anti-point, isn't it? We are here to change all that. It isn't a dream anymore, We have ripples swirling out from our little pebble: a "free-cycle" program beginning in California, international readership, and even those who cannot bring themselves to join us are still inspired by our existence.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>This is not a dream. We are not just making changes: we are the change.</em></span>Larkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01001213559488074175noreply@blogger.com0