energy efficiency, green buildings, slow foods, hybrid cars and alternate fuels.

"A society built on green design, sustainable energy and closed loop systems, a civilization afloat on a cloud of efficient, non-toxic, recyclable technology." ~~Alex Nikolai Steffan

Monday, January 31

Community Film Festival - "Visions of Sustainability"

Feburary 1 - 18 at various locations on FAMU's campus and in the Tallahassee community as we view these engaging films on environmental issues.

Films include:
This Black Soil, Jamaica for Sale, Fresh, The Homecoming, Salud, and Six Degrees.

Locations and times at the so green network website.

Sunday, January 30

HOW GENETICALLY MODIFIED ALFALFA THREATENS ORGANIC FOODS

Monsanto wins again with the USDA.  See the Green Food Tallahassee website for details.

Monday, January 17

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FLORIDA'S SUSTAINABILTY FUTURE

Recognizing the need to refine the way Florida manages growth, Florida’s leading planning and conservation groups have developed a series of recommendations for Gov. Rick Scott, House Speaker Dean Cannon, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos as they assume leadership roles in Florida.  1000 Friends of Florida, Audubon of Florida, the Florida Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and Tropical Audubon Society have transmitted two documents to Florida’s incoming leadership.

The two documents, Planning for Quality Growth and Economic Prosperity for Florida’s Future¸ and Why Planning is an Effective Economic Development Tool for Florida, identify refocused planning strategies to protect significant statewide interests, save taxpayer dollars, streamline the state planning process, and explain why effective planning is essential for sustained economic recovery. 

Monday, January 3

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

If you are looking for building materials to start that New Year's resolution project, the Big Bend Habitat for Humanity holds regular warehouse sales featuring donated building materials that they cannot use.  Recently, they had laminate flooring, bathroom fixtures, assorted lighting fixtures, even a washer and dryer for resale.

Sales are usually held Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, but it's best to call ahead.  Contact Warehouse Manager, Greg Wilson at 850.519.1338.  The warehouse is located at 2921 Roberts Avenue, not too far from Astoria Park Elementary School. 

If you have items to donate, they accept: 
  • items in good, clean condition
  • resellable building materials and home supplies
  • bath fixtures, bricks and blocks, cabinets, doors, electrical supplies, furniture, hardware, heating & air conditioning, lawn & garden, light fixtures, lumber & wood products, paints, stains, adhesives, plumbing supplies, roofing & siding, tools & equipment, windows and vehicles.
The warehouse has limited storage space, so they prefer items to be new, nearly new or in excellent resellable and reusable condition.  If you would like to make a donation, please call the affiliate office at 850.574.2288 and they can schedule a pick-up if necessary.

Sunday, January 2

CLEANER, GREENER NEW YEAR

Women's Voices for the Earth promote national awareness of safe cleaning products and the effects of exposure to toxic products on humans and our environment.

The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition represents more than 11 million individuals and includes parents, health professionals, advocates for people with learning and developmental disabilities, reproductive health advocates, environmentalists and businesses from across the nation.  Its website provides a wealth of information as well as guidance for affecting the political process.
 
Download a free safer cleaning products fact sheet at 
http://watoxics.org/files/cleaningproducts.pdf

Baking soda is a personal favorite as it has many uses besides baking. It absorbs odors, neutralizes acids, and provides mild abrasion.  It easily remove the stains from coffee or tea inside cups.   

Make your own 'soft scrub' with this recipe:


2 cups baking soda
1/2 cup liquid Castile soap 
4 tsp. vegetable glycerin (acts as a preservative)
5 drops antibacterial essential oil such as lavender, tea tree, rosemary or any other scent preferred.  This is optional according to your own preference.


Mix ingredients together and store in a sealed glass jar.  It will last up to two years.


Or make toilet bow cleaner:


Sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, drizzle with vinegar, let soak for at least 30 minutes, then scrub with toilet brush. 


or


Put 1/4 cup of Boraxin toilet bowl and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.  Swish with a toilet brush, then scrub.  Add a few drops of pine oil to increase disinfecting.  (definitely not for people with pine allergies.)

All purpose cleaner for hard surfaces like countertops and kitchen floors, windows and mirrors (use newspaper for no link, no streaks): 

2 cups white distilled vinegar
2 cups water
20 - 30 drops of essential oil (optional)

When the mixture is warmed until barely hot in a microwave, it boost the cleaning power for tough dirt.  Use only a glass container in the microwave. 

Saturday, January 1

CITY INCENTIVES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The rebates, loans and grants available through the City of Tallahassee has been updated on the Green Tallahassee City Incentives page.