Rain! Rain! Rain!… Mold! Mold! Mold! October 6, 2009

In the last few weeks the entire southland, especially Metro Atlanta, has been deluged with rain. Flash floods have overwhelmed entire neighborhoods. Overflowing rivers and streams have caused millions of dollars of damage to homes, schools, and office buildings. In short time, if the drying out process does not occur immediately, rampant mold growth will begin.

EcoDiscoveries has decided to dedicate a new website to talk all about mold and provide useful information regarding its clean up. Go to http://www.moldzyme.com. In its infancy, the website will mainly show information about MoldZyme, one of EcoDiscoveries’ environmentally friendly cleaning products, which is used to remove mold and mildew stains and eliminate related musty odor. In time, the website will show newly added products, technical information about molds, and tips on clean up.

“We’re also hopeful to create a place where professionals in the industry, such as mold remediators and water restoration professionals can come and share information,” added President Marc Perla. “MoldZyme is a leading product in the industry. Now we’re developing a leading mold website too.”

Back to School Lunch Boxes — Low CO2 versions August 20, 2009

School lunch has a lot of drama surrounding it. Chances are, your child’s school lunch program allots between $0.87-$3.00 per meal. We know that eating greener and healthier can be cheap, but school lunch programs lack the infrastructure nationally to make consistently healthy and frugal meals. Plenty of our favorite blogging parents have researched this issue to the core. They have all sorts of great ideas to fix our schools. Until then, many parents are packing the nutrition themselves. Here are some back-to-school lunch box tips that will satisfy their nutrition needs, pallet, and every school-kid’s need to look cool.

1. Rockin’ Lunch Boxes ONLY

Yes, the lunch box has to be cool. Paper sacks are not going to cut it. The greenest option is to reuse last year’s pail. Buying second hand items also reduces the need for new plastics and resins and keeps materials out of landfills. But reused items MUST be cool. Try decorating the old lunch pail with paints, goggly eyes, and other craft items. Salvaged decorations are even more eco-fabulous.

Encourage your child to choose a lunch pail that will be in fashion next year as well. Popular TV characters change so rapidly. Instead, check out a classic looking lunch box made from durable, recycled, or sustainable materials.

2. Food that Looks Cool

Kids share and trade lunches. They are curious about what their classmates eat. Lunch time is an opportunity for kids to learn that different families have different tastes and values. Lunches that look fun encourage healthy habits.

Wraps are a great way to make healthy foods look kid friendly. Veggie and hummus wraps can be sliced to make pinwheels. Rice wrappers make cool spring rolls out of fruit and nuts. Veggie sushi is also great for sophisticated lunch packers.

Fruits and veggies can be cut into fun shapes. Star fruit is easily sliced. Grab a V-blade slicer or food spiralizer to make salads more geometrically interesting.

3. Treats are Necessary

Always pack some kind of treat item so your child will be focused on his own lunch and not curious about the pizza and french fries across the table. A few teaspoons of carob chips and dried fruit might be a good treat for one child while a dill pickle spear (my life time personal favorite) would be ideal for another.

4. Special notes from Mom or Dad are ALWAYS good

Even for your high school student, a good luck charm for a test or a note that reminds them of a plan for a special weekend activity might be the boost your child needs.

Why Wait for Spring? Fall Cleaning Tips August 19, 2009

Prepping your house for the last few weeks of unbearable humidity that can lead to autumn mold is more important than spring cleaning. Dust bunnies and crumbs that are hiding in your home can become problems in the winter time when colds and viruses are lurking. The best defense is a good offense, so start your cool season off clean. With the right precautions, your spring cleaning will be lighter too!

MOLD
We’re really anti-mold at EcoD. Preventing mold growth is essential to keeping your indoor air quality healthy throughout the winter. Winter time can keep your home sealed up tight, keeping the same mold spores and stagnant air in your HVAC system.

1. Change out all HVAC filters. If you have washable filters (good for you for loving our planet and saving money), use MoldZyme to clean all particulates from them. Spray a little MoldZyme on the clean filters to keep them fresher longer.

2. Check your home for leaks. Toilets, exterior spigots, sinks, and the dishwasher are all potential areas for mold to form. Check attic spaces and roofing to ensure that rain isn’t trickling in. A few drops a week can be enough for some forms of mold to really take over.

3. Grouting and caulking repair is crucial to keeping mold at bay. Use MoldZyme to remove all mold from tiles, grout, and caulk. Remove damaged or discolored caulk and replace with mold resistant caulk. Caulk, unfortunately, doesn’t have a long life span. The discoloration you see is often due to damage to the caulk from chemical cleaners or chlorine in you tap water. Use a scrub brush to help MoldZyme penetrate porous grout. Any cleaning product will only clean the spaces it can reach, so work it in with a brush.

HOME DETOX
We’re also really anti-toxins. So here are tips to get them OUT of your house.

1. Air the house out. Open windows and doors to let fresh air in. Choose a day with high air quality, when smog and pollen are low.

2. Bring your plants inside. The weather is cooling and they won’t make it out there. Bring them in so you can grow fresh air.

3. Check under the sinks and in cabinets for toxic products. Left over paints, solvents, and things you will never use again. Some of those things might have been left behind by the previous owners! Check with your local waste center for haz-mat pick up instructions. Once they are gone, you’ll feel better knowing your children and pets can’t get to them.

4. Take down the curtains and wash them. they’ve been collecting dust and hair and whatever the little ones may have wiped on them. AirZyme Concentrate works great for a gentle soak or the gentle cycle of your machine.

5. Get your rugs in shape. Hang them on your clothes line and beat the dust out of them. This is a good family activity for a little insurance on afternoon naps. Spray the rugs with MultiZyme to spot-treat stains. If you have a carpet shampooer, Kitchen Concentrate is fabulous on food spills and muddy prints.

ORGANIZE
If you haven’t used it in the last 12 months, repurpose it. Does this item need to go to the local theatre company for the props and wardrobe closet? Maybe a preschool could benefit? Tax deductions are great. Or better yet, hold a garage sale.

Back to School Clean Up August 17, 2009

Spring cleaning gets all the attention, but fall cleaning is the real chore. It’s back to school time and for some families that means a variety of messes.

Here are some tips for cleaning up and staying clean throughout the school year.

1. Make recycling easy. Food packing and drink cans will fly through your carpool. Offer separate bags for garbage and recycling. This is a great opportunity to eco-evangelize to the families in your neighborhood.

2. Why are so many school activities smelly? Athletic pads, lunch boxes, book bags, dormitories, and minivans are prime places for scholastic stench. AirZyme. It’s fragrance-free and safe for kids.

3. Out with the old and in with the new isn’t Earth friendly. Stop amassing crayons, glue-sticks, and other school supplies. Last year’s stuff can get a revitalization in a hip eco container. Decorated cookie tins can be customized to hold an amalgam of art supplies. If you need new, buy recycled and reclaimed materials.

4. Clean up a homework spot. Being still for study hour is hard enough. Having to wrestle a mess to get there is near impossible. Designate a table or desk for homework and keep it cleared of clutter. Egg cartons make great holders for clips and staples. Reuse glass jam jars for tacks and small items. Clear containers help kids find things faster. And cheaper when you don’t have to buy them!

Clunkers and Carbon? Who has a solution? August 10, 2009

The Cash for clunkers program sure is getting a lot of press. The carbon equation doesn’t seem balanced no matter which side of the politics you stand on. Is it better to maintain older vehicles within eco-guidelines or does the CO2 caused by making new cars negate their fuel ratings?

The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association says keeping cars on the road through proper maintenance provides a greater benefit where petroleum savings are concerned. But can you believe an association whose purpose it is to keep mechanics in business?

Pouring sodium silicate through the engine is certain death for the parts. I listened to a radio clip of a dying clunker. I did not hear it cry out for the recycling center. Some of the vehicles are dismantled for parts while others go through the shredder. This much is public knowledge… but then what?

Anyone see hip recycled clothing? Or how about the unlikely but true, sweaters made from cigarette butts? Who will make recycled clunker bangles, watches, earrings, and belt buckles? Will these clunkers turn into steel lunch pails with hip save-the-planet graphics? Might someone make a cool commuter bike out of one?

Know of a business recycling or reusing cash for clunkers waste? Let us know! We want to support their business! As long as Americans keep trading in their cars, the best we can do is pick up the scraps in a way that will clean up our planet.

Cycle Safety: Greener, Safer Commuting August 4, 2009

Biking to work is a great way to stay fit, love the planet, and save money on fuel. Do it safely!

Cyclists have a responsibility to themselves and other cyclists to obey the laws on a bike and in a car. Be the example and create a safer environment for all cyclists. Know the rules and TELL PEOPLE! Many cycle and car drivers do not know how to be safe in traffic.

1. WEAR YOUR HELMET – Stupid people get stupider when they knock their noggins on the pavement. Zero tolerance for helmetless riders. Parents, set the example!
2. OBEY TRAFFIC SIGNS AND SIGNALS – Bicycles must drive like other vehicles if they are to be taken seriously by motorists.
3. EYES AND EARS OPEN – Don’t ride with your head phones on. You need to hear the traffic. A quality pair of sun glasses can reduce glare and protect your eyes from rocks and flying insects.
4. PARKED CARS BEWARE – Motorists must look for cyclists before getting out of the car when parking on the street. Don’t hit a cyclist with your door. Parallel parked cars can obstruct the view of cyclists and motorists. Weaving between parked cars or riding out into traffic from between parked cars can surprise motorists.
5. PASS ONLY WHEN SAFE – Do not squeeze the bicyclist off the road. If road conditions and space permit, allow clearance of at least three feet when passing a bicyclist.
6. EVERYONE HAS A BLIND SPOT – Check twice! Trucks, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians are all in danger when we fail to double check our blind spots. Do not rely on mirrors in heavy cycle and pedestrian traffic areas.
7. SIGNAL!!! – Automobiles have blinking turn signals for a reason. Cyclist must use hand signals too. Learn them, use them.

Reduce! How to NOT Trash Your Campsite August 3, 2009

Things are cooling down and we’re all trying to get those last minute camping trips in before school starts. Our Twitter friend @greenstuff101 reminded us of something super important: camping can create garbage!

We hate garbage.

Camping trash is way more retched than trash at home because
1. it can attract animals like bears, skunks, and rodents… two thumbs down to that at 3am
2. it’s HEAVY and you have to CARRY it (possibly up hill)
3. if it leaks, it stains (so carry MultiZyme to pre-treat)
4. outdoor hygiene is super important, especially for families. Long trips can mean holding on to moldy or bacteria laden items. Decomp is best in the compost, not your back pack.

So what’s the solution? REDUCE! Our favorite R! Many of us get so focused on Recycling… There are more Rs
The primary way to achieve a less trashy campsite is to REDUCE packaging of your camping food.

Make 1-pot-1-bag meals. Pre-chop your veggies and meats. I use 1 gallon zip-seal freezer bags and store a complete meal inside it. Camp Fire Curry Bag: diced chicken/tofu, diced veggies, coconut milk, curry powder. Then freeze the bag. It will thaw out while you hike! Dump the entire contents of the bag into your camping wok and have an amazing and easy 1 pot meal. The can the coconut milk came in is at home in the recycle bin. The packaging from the protein source is too! The veggie peels and stems are in your home compost. You only have the plastic bag to carry around.

Get your food on site. Catch fish! Toting around your protein source can create a lot of weight and a lot of trash to keep things sealed and free of contaminates. Gather berries, mushrooms, or other produce from the area. Make sure you positively identify the plants before eating them. I never pack coffee or tea when I camp in the Appalachians. I dig Wild Ginger root for tea. No packaging.

Don’t buy the preservative-packed crap! Camping supply stores love to sell you pouches of freeze-dried salt-filled expensive plastic wrapped crap. So expensive! And spending money is NOT green. Make your own trail mix from the bulk bins at the co-op and pack in reusable containers. Have a dehydrator? Make your own jerky, dried fruits and veggies, kale chips, and more. Cowboy Vegetable Beef Stew: in our trusty 1-gallon freezer bag combine 1 serving of diced jerky and 1 serving of diced dried veggies per person with a blend of bay leaves, thyme, pepper, and bouillon. Boil over your camp fire with an equal amount of water. This a a very light way to carry in soup– no cans! And this requires no refrigeration.

And the unmentionable trash… toilet paper. Well, that camping shovel has a purpose. Get the quick composting TP made from recycled paper. Respect your water source and habitable camp sites when choosing your dig site.

Eco Family Fun – Love our planet and love other planets! July 31, 2009

Finding earth-friendly things to do with the kids can be challenging. They’d rather play with their techy toys and iPhones. Compromise! What’s more techy than a star gazing party?

Love our planet and love other planets! Go star gazing! Use your iPhone or iPod touch and ePhemeris to find stars and planets in the night sky. This app is cool because it calculates the stars from your exact location and you don’t have to fuss with a chart.

The next meteor shower is the Perseids on August 12, 2009. The shower peaks early afternoon on the 12th, so the morning of the 12th (midnight to dawn) and late evening are the best times to watch from the U.S.

Next see the Orionids on the morning of October 21.

Venus is ripe for viewing in the morning and early evening. It is the most dazzling planet in the sky. It generally stays near Mars. An ephemeral calculator will let you know which planets are close by one another to position the telescope most conveniently.

Grillin’ Green July 28, 2009

Still too hot to cook inside, so keep your grill going!

If your family is tired of the traditional burgers and dogs, give them something seasonal and sensational like one of our EcoD lower-carbon recipes.

First, clean your grill with EcoDiscoveries Kitchen cleaner. Many of the meats that your family has enjoyed this summer leave greasy drippings. When you use an all natural cleaner, you’re protecting your food from petro-chemicals. Kitchen cleaner is tough enough to blast through greasy messes even if the grill is hot from sitting in the sun. Some cleaners aren’t stable when used on hot surfaces. Beware of cleaners that contain alcohol or strong solvents. They may ignite in summer heat. These products are NOT safe around food.

Next, expand your sources. Can you get fresh local produce from somewhere other than the super market? Many communities have farmer’s markets and CSAs. And be brave! Stop by road-side stands and haggle for the best deals on naturally farmed food. Neighbors often have more tomatoes than they can consume this time of year. Swap and co-op with your church, office, or play-group. Did your squash do well? Trade for okra!

Grilled Corn and Black Bean Tacos

4 ears sweet corn
16 oz can organic black beans, drained and rinsed
2 home grown tomatoes, diced
2 home grown red bell peppers (if you grow other peppers such as pablanos or cubanellas, those will work perfectly)
1/2 local cabbage (green or purple are both delicious)
1 cup grated carrot
olive oil
taco spice (equal parts sea salt, cumin, black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, and onion powder)
juice of 1 lime

Cilantro Lime Cream (recipe follows)
whole wheat tortillas

Heat grill on high closed for 4 minutes to get the grates hot.
Slice cabbage into disks, leaving the root intact to hold the disk together. Brush each side with olive oil and sprinkle on taco spice. Place directly on the grill.

Remove husks from corn. Brush with olive oil then sprinkle taco spice over the ear. Place directly on the grill.

Wash the peppers and place directly on the grill — no oil or seasoning is needed.

Heat beans with 1 TB water and a sprinkle of taco spice in a sauce pot.

Turn veggies after 2 minutes to brown on all sides.

When veggies are grilled (about 4-6 minutes of cook time), cut corn from cob, seed and chop peppers, and rough chop the cabbage. Toss with black beans, grated carrot, diced tomato, and the juice of 1 lime. *cook’s tip* place the lime on the grill for 1 minute before juicing to release more juice

Serve on tortillas with Cilantro Lime Cream

1 cup sour cream
1 bunch cilantro, washed and chopped
juice of 2 limes
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Whisk together and chill for 20 minutes to let flavors mingle. Can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 1 week.

This is a super healthy and cheap eco-meal. Local and home grown food is thrifty and good for the planet.

We Love Food @ EcoD July 24, 2009

So sometimes I’ll post a recipe. Like what I’m having for lunch today. From our sustainable table to yours.

Coconut Rice with Pigeon Peas and Jerk Tempeh – Vegan Caribbean

1 1/2 Cups white rice

1 tablespoon sesame oil (optional)

14 oz can coconut milk, unsweetened

12 oz water

14 oz can Pigeon peas

2 packages Tempeh (most come in 12 ounce package)

Jerk Seasoning (recipe follows)

For Rice

Toast rice in dry pan on high for 3 minutes stirring constantly. If desired, drizzle in sesame oil and stir rapidly to coat each grain. Pour in water and coconut milk. Stir well. turn heat to low and cover. Let rice simmer 15 minutes just before tender. In last 4 minutes of cooking, drain pigeon peas, reserve 2 tablespoons of liquid. Add peas and liquid to rice. Fold to incorporate. Simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to rest covered.

Rice may absorb liquid quickly depending on the type of pan used or it may escape the lid. Add additional water 2 tablespoons at a time during cooking if necessary.

Slice tempeh in strips and toss in dry jerk seasoning to coat evenly. Grill over medium high heat or in grill pan until grill marks form, about 3 minutes. Turn and grill until tempeh reaches desired char level.

Jerk Dry Rub

1 part all spice

1 part granulated garlic

1/2 part ground ginger

1 part black pepper

1 part cayenne

2 parts brown sugar

1 part salt

1 part thyme

1/4 part ground cloves

1 part onion powder

Shake together. Store in air tight jar in cool dry place. Spice mixes do well in the dark, not on a shelf near the window.