Your Daily Breeze

How to Feel Good

Photo from: Canku Ota
Amidst all the poisons and snap traps, there is my old Have-a-heart, a mouse trap that comfortably keeps mouse or mice until you can release them elsewhere. The obtainment of this, or similar equipment can cost nothing at all - 14 bucks, but the feeling you get from it is priceless.

After months of rodent free living, a mouse finally moved in. I set out my Have-a-heart last night, and this morning a fuzzy, healthy looking mouse was peering out at me. It's cold out, and although the mouse is not tame*, it has been living in the comforts of humans (heat, food, water). So, as I headed out on my walk this morning, I coaxed the gentle, surprisingly non-spastic mouse into a box filled with recycled toilet paper and the treat that he ate in all entirety while in the trap at night, a piece of tortilla, and a wet piece of tortilla (most little rodents do not prefer to drink water from a bowl).

Then I walked to where there were no houses or roads in sight, set the box down, and left (don't worry, I'll go back for the box). I used to watch them gingerly come out, and practically tear up when they'd seemed to look back at me, saying "thank you". But, really did the mouse have any clue about what could have happened to it, if Have-a-heart didn't exist? Whether or not it knew, is irrelevant, the pleasant feeling of using an alternative to a commonly dire situation is what made my day. Plus, compassion, mixed with a little bit of successful human animal conflict resolution feels really good.

* Please DO NOT ever release store-bought/tame mice into the wild.

Free Range Fishies

Image from: National Geographic

Offshore fish farms are becoming more and more prevalent. Salmon farming has already taught us a lot about the successes and failures of aquaculture, such as the risk of diseases like lice that can spread like wildfire through native populations of fish. Not to mention, the risk of escape by one of the captive fish, or their breeding with wild populations and the effect that might have on their wild counterparts' genetic makeup.

 "Studies show that some salmon populations may go extinct and most wild fish populations are declining in areas where salmon farming occurs." George Leonard, Director, Aquaculture Program, Ocean Conservancy.

Signing this petition would help voice your opinion about the standards that these farms must maintain for the future of our oceans. It takes less then a minute to fill out, yay!

Salmon Farm: image from Veggie Revolution.

"We must protect the health of our ocean and the environmental interests of the public before expanding fish farming in our ocean. This approach is absolutely essential to helping balance our growing demand for healthy seafood with the needs of protecting our ocean and our coastal economies." George Leonard

In the meantime, try adopting other healthy eating habits, such as consuming flax oil, flax seed, walnuts, hemp oil, and the seasonal favorite pumpkin seeds. They provide you with the Omega -3 essential fatty acids that you need when you can't or don't want to eat fish.

If you do Purchase...

Would you like to do good while shopping at your regular favorite stores? EarthMovement has partnered with over 1,000 companies who pay a commission to have their business listed and half of the proceeds go toward investments in reforestation, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. So, every time you buy something, part of its cost goes toward something we'll all appreciate in the long run. Thank you!

Money/Earth Tip

Your home or business hot water heater could be a large expense that could be lowered as much as 10% if you turn your heater down 10 or 20 degrees. Ideally,  it should be set anywhere from 100-120 degrees.

Save Money, Feel Good

There are so many ways to save hundreds of dollars, here's an article by Consumer Reports with great suggestions on how to live lightly.

Earn Money by Recycling

If you're in need of some extra dough and have a ton of stuff you want to get rid of, check out the sites below. Also, 'Staples' currently gives you $3.00 coupons for certain ink cartridges, and they have a drop box for phones and batteries (as well as other inks that aren't included in their promotion).

Cell phones, PDAs, and accessories: greenphone.com
Computers, monitors, and hard drives: myboneyeard.com
iPods: apple.com/environment/recycling/ipodrecycling
Printer Cartridges: FreeRecycling.com
Workout Equipment: playitagainsports.com

It's a perfect way to feel good!

Flea Bomb!

Uma, a lovely red dog, recently 'developed' a case of the fleas. The regular doctor recommended medicines and collars galore, but I have to ask, "Isn't there a safer (less chemically) way to do it?"

And there is! After looking up "natural flea remedies" on Goodsearch.com (a place where each search earns a penny for a good cause), there are countless natural things you can put on or near your dog that will deter even the most persistent flea, tick, or mosquito.

Here's just a sampling of things you can find at your local health food store will banish the buggers away: Tea tree oil, mint oil, lavender, wintergreen (sparingly) and grapeseed oil. Whatever you do though, don't put garlic in their food! It hurts their hemoglobin (a transported of oxygen to the lungs) and if feed over time greatly increases their chance of getting Heinz Body Enemia.

So, next time your dog is itching like mad, just think of that natural oil you have lying around, they'll be so appreciative.

Some great sites on the subject:
Natural Flea and Mosquito Remedies
Learning Herbs -Natural Flea Remedy

Stop Junk Mail

I did this about a year and a half ago. It works! And better yet, it's free and easy!! Whaaa?

See all about it here, or just call:

Credit Bureaus Main Opt-Out Line
              
  888 567-8688

2nd Hand Luck

Buying stuff is fun, but next time you're in the mood to splurge, consider what goes into making the product you're purchasing. Lots of energy, oil, coal, well, just a bunch (sometimes even tons) of bad stuff goes into the making of new items. On the contrary, reused items eliminate this waste, and reduce the need to even make the bad chemicals in the first place (if no one buys it, they'll stop making it). As an added bonus, reusing saves landfill space.

If you're looking for clothes, furniture, toys, and household items these 2nd hand shops are perfect solutions. Sometimes you can find incredible chairs, furniture, lamps, and more; something not available in any current catalog.

As my Dad so endearingly says "Anything can be anywhere"! 

Savers
Salvation Army
Goodwill

Thrift Store Locator
Antique stores
Auctions

Free community bulletins:

http://www.craigslist.org
http://www.freecycle.com

Simple Green

You know, it doesn't take a nuclear rocket scientist to figure out how to make a difference in how you impact Mother Earth during your (brief) stay here. Whether you recyle, re-use, use-up or do without, some very simple ideas and practices can help you reduce your dependence on resources, AND save you some serious money in the process. Check out this nice article from The Oregonian regarding some best practices you can use.