Love Those Candles - Actually LED Flameless Pillars

This is a 9-piece LED Flamess set, three of which are lithium battery operated, and six of which are  AA batteries

How long have these been around?  I love candles but rarely buy or use them because:

• 1) they leave big waxy messes on tablecloths or tables
• 2) there is always a hazard of fire and
• 3) paraffin is a petroleum product, and inefficient at that

Recently our our hostess, Ann, was lighting  lovely pillar candles on her buffet, by flipping a switch on the bottom.  They flicker, they give off a nice vanilla fragrance, but since they are LEDs, no heat.  No danger of fire.  And they, like the Burning Bush, are never consumed.  She did mention that they require expensive batteries.
An online search brought up some lovely ones which run on AA batteries.  Above is a set which has 3 batteries which require lithium batteries (the expensive ones Ann was referencing), but six which run on AA batteries, readily available as rechargeables.  Further research shows other varieties and features.  These come with a hilarious remote.  At first I thought this was ridiculous, but after turning nine candles off manually, I get it.  Another set is available with a timer which automatically turns the candles off after 5 hours.

Lastly I found a set of a dozen tea-lights which come with their own recharger.  These are all remarkably traditional looking - beautiful, flickery, gentle candle light.  Our guests were surprised to learn they were not the real thing.
In a light-polluted world, are these a guilty pleasure?  If they replace conventional candles, there is less waste.  If they just add to the world's pile of cheap electronic junk, don't buy them.  I have been using and enjoying mine - they are beautiful just to look at, and when illuminated cast a lovely glow at the dining room table, serving as an artful centerpiece.

Eco-Gear BackPack - It Doesn't Save the World, but a Good Choice

Last time I needed a backpack, I joined Sierra Club and got one for free.  It lasted maybe 10 years, but recently the bottom has been disintegrating, leaving little black flakes on everything .  When I need something new, first I check to repurpose - maybe I have something comparable lying around?  Nope, all back packs have been given away, are worn out, or are the wrong size.  (Our kids each got through grades school through high school on about 2 LLBean book bags, so it pays to buy high quality ones.)
Sometimes I post on FreeCycle, but I actually wanted more say in the design and features of a backpack, since I use one several times a week,  for running errands on foot, and when I travel.  I researched eco-friendly options.  The materials themselves do not seem like a big issue to me. Since the bag will be used for so many years, it will be well amortized, even if it is petroleum-based polyester.  Back packs don't weigh that much and are not likely to be manufactured in ways which can be verifiably sustainable.  And good luck finding one not manufactured in China.
That doesn't leave many eco-friendly aspects to the purchase, other than buying a bag from a site where some of the proceeds go to a green cause.  Didn't see any.
By persisting a bit, I found a EcoGear, a low-priced bag readily available in nice colors, sizes, and options. Its green claim to fame is being made from RPET , recycled polyethylene terepthalate - recycled soda bottles, and free of PVC. Its products can be found at mainstream retailers, even Walmart. Helping drive demand for recycled materials is a definite eco-benefit.  ANd they donate to 1% for the Planet, which  fund lots of great initiatives; they list a few thousand approved ones which companies can choose among.  Here is one from India which promotes natural dyes, for example.  Nice to know $.15 of my purchase is going to their chosen cause. (Who knows how they calculate 1% - it probably is less than that per bag, but at least it's a micor-contribution to support eco-causes.)
The backpack is great, with loads of cleverly designed pockets, including one for a laptop.  Score!  The only thing I can't get excited about is their slogan, "Saving the world one bag at a time."  We will not be saving the world by buying recycled backpacks any time soon.  Sigh.
The Recycle Series is Ecogear’s testament to the functionality of recycling. Featuring the rugged and sleek Palila backpack, this bag has all the essential components for the modern individual, with the additional bonus of being made of RPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate) water bottles. 

Shame on Office Max!

Just received a 4 lb unsolicited catalog from Office Max, probably because I ordered something from them online.
If you hate catalogs, go to Catalog Choice and start cancelling 'em.  Even with extreme vigilance over these past few years, a lot of junk mail sneaks through.  Culprits include nonprofits, some even environmental-missioned, and companies I order from online.  Wish there was a way that when ordering you could tell them not to send you snail mail like you can elect not to get email.
And credit cards.  For the last month I've called every credit card offer to get off their lists.  It is surprisingly easy.  Just press 0 "to apply for a credit card".  If they think they've got you, they answer immediately.  Then tell them to take you off the list.  Takes a minute.

Upcycling Neck Ties - Here's How

Four of my husbands ties have bit the dust. There are crafters that refashion ties into skirts and other arty creations, and I recently saw a woven-tie chair seat replacing a worn out wicker.  A quick google of "repurposing neck ties" brought a cool solution: Ties With A Purpose.  They employ homeless, low-income people and create beautiful pillows, bags, even hats.  And they reuse every part of the ties, even the linings.  Fabulous win-win-win!

They will help you throw a Toss Your TIe party!

Ship your old ties to:
Ties That Matter, LLC 
PO Box 11914 
Atlanta, GA 30355

My Keen Rice Bag Shoes

My friend Mindy, also an artist and eco-activist, saw me in my funky shoes made of repurposed rice bags.  She thought they were a hoot, and was surprised  I hadn't posted them on my blog.  Here, Min.
The reason I didn't is that while they are upcycled rice bags, they are made in China, and I wasn't able to really verify anything about their eco-biography.  Hoping for the best, that they aren't made in a sweat shop, and that the rice bag collectors were paid fairly.  Of course there is lots of rice in China....  Let's hope they didn't ship the rice bags in from somewhere else.
Should you be interested in a pair, note they run very large.  Order a half size smaller than you would normally wear.  Keen's description:  the upper is crafted with reclaimed rice paper. Recycled polyurethane and cork create a naturally comfy footbed, rewarding your eco-friendly frame of mind. Please note, because of the unique nature of this product, each item is one of a kind.

Women's Clothing Giveaway 6 - January 29

Seated at The High Point at Allens Lane, meeting over coffee to plan an event, my mini-backpack caught Sue Wasserkrug’s eye.  “Funny, I once had backpack that looked just like that”, she commented, quizzically.  “Well… did you donate it to the GJC Women’s Clothing Giveaway?”  Having just met, we looked at each other and burst out laughing.  Sue meeting up with her old backpack, one of my favorite Giveaway finds, totally captures the whimsy and heimishness of our annual happening. 

Not only was this hilarious, it solved a challenge for me: what on earth to say, writing about the Giveaway for the sixth time?  In truth, though, our Giveaway has grown and evolved in many new ways, due to the creativity, planning, and hard work of many devoted volunteers from Women’s Club and the Social Action Committee.  Sue, by the way, is a neighbor who volunteers at the event, too.

Last year the Swap took a quantum leap, becoming the Giveaway.  One of our challenges was the enormous surplus of donated clothes left at the end.  Marcy Bacine reached out to day care centers and organizations that support low income women around the city, inviting them as guests to the event; many enthusiastically attended.  Our beautiful marquee Lincoln Drive sign, featuring the stunning papercut by our own Mindy Shapiro, helped build excitement.  As a result, we tripled our attendance, raising over $4500 to donate to Darfur refugees, and had way less clothing leftover.  (The remainders are donated to Whosoever Gospel Mission in Germantown.)  Our permanent website helps with social networking.  Rivkah Walton has created lovely fliers and other PR materials. We have created something really exciting and impactful!

Genie Ravital has coordinated this event since she dreamed it up back in the day.  She has developed systems that work beautifully, kept track of details like who can lend dress racks, where the signs are stored, how many tables we need.  Our volunteers are seasoned as well, often pitching in as personal shoppers, with Connie Katz heading up food and details. 

Last year there was some worry that there might be a riot when so many women showed up prior to the opening at 11:00 AM, but everyone managed to find clothing without pepper spraying other shoppers.  Many happy women walked out with large designer shopping bags (donated, of course) full of gently used clothing. Throughout the day, additional garments were continually added to the tables, as women laid out donations before commencing their own hunting and gathering expeditions.

Women For Women International is this year’s beneficiary.  Nicholas Kristof recommends its important work with women survivors of war and conflict.  Of the dozens of wonderful organizations working globally to help lift up women, this one best expanded the Darfur Alert path we have taken, but also we love its name. Women For Women pretty much sums up what the day is all about.

To volunteer email Geniebud@gmail.com or to link us to more agencies serving low income women, contact Marcy Bacine, marcy49@me.com