Did you join the Green Pleas Movement on Saturday?

Earth Hour 2008

For our family Earth Hour was a beautiful reminder of life before electricity and also the inevitable modern-day tie binding us to electricty.

My boys and I went around the house and turned off all the lights and unplugged whatever we could. They loved that. A kind of hide-and-seek. Then we lit candles and read the book du jour: Robin Hood and they drifted peacefully off to sleep.

But when all was said and done, I couldn't help but notice that we still had half a dozen green lights on in the house that we could not (one was a "would not") turn off.

Our home alarm system (thanks to a recent rash of car burglaries and attempted b & e), our fridge (man's gotta eat), the phone (we still have a land line), the oven clock, the microwave clock (no off buttons there), and the tv recording March madness (last time Betty turned that off in a conservation frenzy my husband lost the taped game of his alma mater - talk about Betty backlash)were still drawing electricity.

I felt a bit deflated - not being able to "really" turn off the lights for Earth Hour.

But then I remembered a wise person saying "perfection is the enemy of good." At when it comes to us humans, we're not perfect. Living and breathing and working and playing, we can't always do in the dark. (bite your tongue there, witty ones)

But for one night we joined the collective and symbolic green plea to address the problem of global climate change and demonstrate a desire to do better.

World Wildlife Fund's vice president for climate change, Richard Moss, said, "It's not about sitting in the dark[;]it's about making a serious commitment over the next year and beyond over how we contribute to climate change."

Well said,
BWB

Photos of Bread Event

(Previously posted, but now with photos. Thanks Adrienne!)

Thursday's event hosted by Better World Betty and Do Something Charlottesville was a huge success!

About fifty community members stopped by the Galleria Thursday to talk about change of the Better World Betty kind.

We all enjoyed local food and wine, we brainstormed ideas for new action, we raised some money for our efforts and above all we enjoyed the sense of community: joining together in our collective efforts to live a better, more sustainable life here.

Five beautiful specialty loaves from the best local bakeries and two gift cerficates and a complimentary wine tour, tasting and lunch for four were silently auctioned off.

Gerry Newman of Albemarle Baking Company outdid himself with a rustic country boule with a giant "B" shaped on the top. Thanks so much to him for the gracious donation.

I give a huge thanks to Kate Collier, owner of Feast!, an avid Betty supporter who provided a wonderful variety of local cheese for the event. (Pictures may follow - cross your technical fingers).

Jefferson Vineyards provided some excellent local wine at a discount for us as well. Thank you!

Six attendees were the lucky winners of loaves donated from the following bakeries:

Albemarle Baking Company
From Scratch Bakery
Chandlers
Bakers Palette
Breadworks
Whole Foods

Also, I want to thank 1061 the Corner for having me back in the studio to promote the site and the event. I won't quit my day job and replace Brad and Tad just yet!

One of my memorable chats was with Kai, who founded Our Space a shared community space on the downtown mall, below the Tea Bazaar. Their mission is to provide a "family friendly environment where everyone is empowered to take initiative and create their own projects" building a community that natures personal growth and happiness. When I asked him what inspired this he said that he saw a similar model in DC and thought "Why not Charlottesville?"

He took life in the palm of both hands and made it happen. I LOVE that!

I also had the pleasure to meet a UVA Grad student, Mark Parlette, who is working on a community food project to bring low-income families shares of local CSA's. He's also decided to join the Betty team by doing some campus publicity, booth work and blogging!

I also met Jon Golden, a professional photographer/ professional nomad, who is instrumental in the Charlottesville's Festival of the Photograph. I love talking to people about their passions. John and I talked about the role of art in creating social change (insider info: Betty is looking to host a juried art show this fall and currently we are considering the focus medium).

And of course it's always a pleasure when the Mayor stops in for a visit!

I thank everyone for coming out!

Peace,
BWB

Where does Betty buy her gas?

Of course the answer to that is NOWHERE. Better World Betty walks, bikes, and uses public transportation.

BUT she has plenty of friends (FOBs - Friends of Betty) all across the green spectrum: retirees with Prius'; families with kids,(with the accompanying activity transport needs), dogs; couples who live in the countryside; UVA students who travel home or elsewhere during the breaks.

So what is the most socially and environmentally responsible choice to make when it comes to gas?

Before we go there, it is important to acknowledge that this question is akin to asking yourself what poison would you like to drink? Each of these companies has significant black marks when it comes to our beloved planet: one, close to home, is when Conoco gained permission to drill in Utah's Grand Staircase/ Escalante National Monument and luckily they came up empty. Oil spills, destruction, supporting dictatorships, the list goes on.

Sierra Club reviewed the records of the 8 largest oil companies and here are the results:

BEST BARRELL:
BP (click here for locations in cville)
Sunoco (3788 N. SEMINOLE TRAIL)


NOT GREAT BARRELL:
Royal Dutch Shell
Chevron
Valero Energy Corporation
Citgo

WORST - FOBs: STEER CLEAR
ExxonMobil
ConocoPhillips

BP is one of the biggest investors in renewable energy technologies among oil companies and they have environmental/sustainability reports available. They are particularly active in the area of photovoltaic (solar) cells and BP Solar is a major cell manufacturer. (Amoco is BP owned). Before you get too excited, my FOBs, do take into account that they are among the "dirty four" (ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Phillips Petroleum) who are seeking to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Answer: let's write letters to headquarters... anyone want to join?)

Check out the whole report: Pick your poison

Another alternative, biodiesel*.

For those of you who want to align your dollars with your values in the political arena, try blueblue.org (currently undergoing an update) or opensecrets.org

Hope this helps!
BWB

*(Betty's working on a future blog article on this alternative - use patience: entire books have been written on the subject and it seems some new bit of information arrives daily)

Breaking Bread for a Better World

Thursday's event hosted by Better World Betty and Do Something Charlottesville was a huge success!

About fifty community members stopped by the Galleria Thursday to talk about change of the Better World Betty kind.

We all enjoyed local food and wine, we brainstormed ideas for new action, we raised some money for our efforts and above all we enjoyed the sense of community: joining together in our collective efforts to live a better, more sustainable life here.

Five beautiful specialty loaves from the best local bakeries and two gift cerficates and a complimentary wine tour, tasting and lunch for four were silently auctioned off.

Gerry Newman of Albemarle Baking Company outdid himself with a rustic country boule with a giant "B" shaped on the top. Thanks so much to him for the gracious donation.

I give a huge thanks to Kate Collier, owner of Feast!, an avid Betty supporter who provided a wonderful variety of local cheese for the event. (Pictures may follow - cross your technical fingers).

Jefferson Vineyards provided some excellent local wine at a discount for us as well. Thank you!

Six attendees were the lucky winners of loaves donated from the following bakeries:

Albemarle Baking Company
From Scratch Bakery
Chandlers
Bakers Palette
Breadworks
Whole Foods

Also, I want to thank 1061 the Corner for having me back in the studio to promote the site and the event. I won't quit my day job and replace Brad and Tad just yet!

One of my memorable chats was with Kai, who founded Our Space a shared community space on the downtown mall, below the Tea Bazaar. Their mission is to provide a "family friendly environment where everyone is empowered to take initiative and create their own projects" building a community that natures personal growth and happiness. When I asked him what inspired this he said that he saw a similar model in DC and thought "Why not Charlottesville?"

He took life in the palm of both hands and made it happen. I LOVE that!

I also had the pleasure to meet a UVA Grad student, Mark Parlette, who is working on a community food project to bring low-income families shares of local CSA's. He's also decided to join the Betty team by doing some campus publicity, booth work and blogging!

I also met Jon Golden, a professional photographer/ professional nomad, who is instrumental in the Charlottesville's Festival of the Photograph. I love talking to people about their passions. John and I talked about the role of art in creating social change (insider info: Betty is looking to host a juried art show this fall and currently we are considering the focus medium).

And of course it's always a pleasure when the Mayor stops in for a visit!

I thank everyone for coming out!

Peace,
BWB

Spring Cleaning!

I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling
the need to clean
and the urge to purge

Welcome to spring cleaning!

The added benefit of these recipes from Mother Earth News and the Children's Health Environmental Coalition is that your kids can help. They are all made of natural ingredients like white vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, etc.

All-Purpose cleaner: 1/4 cup vinegar, and 3-4 cups of hot water, 2 tsp borax (optional). Put in a spray bottle.

In the kitchen: mix baking soda and liquid soap to form a paste - use this as a "soft scrub" You can use this in the oven - coat the oven, let it sit for a few hours, wipe out clean.

In the bathroom: mix 1 2/3 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup of liquid soap (I love Dr. Bronner's), 1/2 cup water. Wait a few seconds, then add 2 Tbs of vinegar.

In the laundry room: try hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach. Also, 1/4 cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle helps remove detergent completely from clothes and will lessen the stiffness factor if you are line drying.

Best,
BWB

Carbon Offsetting 101

Fact:
The US has only 5% of the world's population, but produces 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions

Fact:
If the US continues its current rates of CO2 emissions, while India and China further industrialize, the CO2 in our atmosphere will increase dramatically. This climate change will have real consequences for the U.S. and the world, such as increased droughts and floods, threats to biodiversity, additional sea-level rise (Pew Center on Global Climate Change)

This issue requires many types of solutions, offsetting is one of them.

What are offsets?
To "offset" is to implement a project that reduces the level of green house gases in the atmosphere in order to offset your production of CO2.



Climate Trust is a non-profit organization in Portland Oregon that is currently the largest buyer of offsets in the US. You can offset your car travel or air travel or other CO2 generating activity with them by calculating that with carboncounter.org

How do carbon offsets work?

We can offset CO2 by increasing energy efficiency in buildings, by planting trees, and by generating elecricity from renewable sources like wind and sun.

When you choose an organization like terrapass.com or carbonfund.org, or sustainabletravelinternational.org, your money funds projects such as wind farms that reduce carbon emissions

When you buy a carbon offset it is important to know where your money is going. So do your homework by surfing the sites. I am partial to carbonfund.org based in Maryland. They support renewable energy AND energy efficiency AND reforestation projects.

Sustainable Travel International and Continental Airlines recently announced plans to offer customers the option to participate in a carbon offsetting program. Hopefully other airlines will follow.

Bottom Line:
The average household produces 7.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. The average 5 hour flight creates 1.23 metric tons of CO2. Offsetting is an important piece of the green solution.

Happy green trails,
BWB

WANTED: Better-World Buyers!

But I need the help of you, the better world consumers.

Better World Betty is currently seeking sponsorship (through small site ads) from local businesses to help support this grassroots effort for environmental change.

Let me back up and say this is a huge part of how Betty was born. I was looking at my day-to-day purchasing decisions as a stay-home-mom, homeowner, cook asking myself: How can I use my dollars in a BETTER way? Instead of going to Target (being the bargain-hunter that I've always been, I used to salivate when walking into that place), can I be more mindful, more wise with my money? Can we pay a little more at a local toy store, but buy less? If I go out to eat in the 'ville, I want to go to a place that isn't transporting their food from miles and miles across the country and serving it on disposable products. Drycleaning - is there a better, less polluting way? (yes, we use Evergreen cleaners and home methods) The list goes on.

So I want to hear from you!

Are you passionate about aligning your values with your buying?
Do you go out of your way to support the local Charlottesville and Albemarle County businesses?
Do you seek out businesses that you know are doing their part to reduce, reuse and recycle in our community?
Do you shop businesses who consider the triple bottom line: profits, people and the planet?

What kinds of businesses are you looking to support with your dollars here in Charlottesville and the County? What do you want to see businesses provide or do? What kinds of businesses DON'T you support? Do you struggle with your current choices available (I know I do)?

I want to hear from you! Email betty@betterworldbetty.com or respond here, in blog format, or patiently wait for a Betty survey to come out (;-)

Peace,
BWB

D.I.Y. Easter egg dying "naturally"

The last of the green travel series will be ending this week with green travel tips and offsetting options, but tonight I wanted to give you some fun natural (plant based) Easter Egg dye for those of you who will be celebrating Easter with a basketful of decorated eggs.

*Find clover, small violets, grass clipping or small ferms and place them on the eggs using rubber cement or gesso or mod podge. Beautiful and natural.

*Try the following for "natural" colors (thanks Betty reader, cgresser!):

cranberry juice - red
pickled beet juice - light pink
dark tea or berry tea - light brown to rose
coffee - brown

*or cook theses plants, then collect the juice using a strainer:

yellow onion skin - yellow to orange tan
carrot tops - yellow
parsley or spinach leaves - green
purple cabbage leaves - purple

(sorry no fruits on this list - there not in season)

*don't forget to add some vinegar to the color solution.

Enjoy! (Send pictures)
BWB

Surf the new green wave of travel: couch surfing!

Surf’s up, travelers! And I’m not talking about surfing the waves. I’m talking about surfing couches! Step into the world of couch surfing.com and “help make the world a better place one couch at a time.”

What am I talking about? The new bohemian craze in travel:couch surfing. Couch surfing was invented by Casey Fenton - he was young and a little low on funds and got a free ticket to Iceland. Only problem: nowhere to stay. And he really didn’t have the money or the inclination to hole up in a hotel, so he used the internet to find people willing to put him up at their place. The rest in online history (beginning officially in 2004). Currently over 226 countries have couch surfers and almost 40,000 cities!

I heard about couch surfing from two friends of mine, Katell and Damien, from France. She couch-surfed from Charlottesville to Quebec just recently by herself, but before that her and Damien couch surfed in France, to Chicago, New York and in a three-week trip across the U.S. The first question I asked my friend, Katell, an unassuming petite woman who doesn’t weigh more a small chair, “Is it safe?” She said in all of her couch surfing experience, she has never had any sort of problem. There have been people she didn’t really gel with, but in that case you politely say that things aren’t working out, and no worries - one finds another couch.

Because of the open nature of the system, it weeds out potentially creepy customers. The social networking format includes “vouching” and “verification.” The nice thing, she said, is that you call the shots. You read an individual’s profile as your planning a trip and decide if they sound like a good match for you. Once you decide, you share your profile with them and they decide if it’s ok to surf on their couch for the night, or two or more. If they do, they will invite you.

In talking with Katell, the most beautiful thing I am struck with, besides the fact that it is so green (no big hotel with the hall lights on 24-7, no plastic goodies) is that it really brings a much more human side to travel. She said that she has met some amazing people who have really become good friends throughout the world.

Couch-surfing expands your comfort zone (no more retreating back to your empty hotel room). You meet new people and have a totally local experience. Katell said that she had asked for an invitation from a girl whose parents owned a lake in the country, so she invited her there instead and had an amazing experience kayaking with her and her family. “You realize that people are nice and generous and you may not get along with everyone, but everyone’s spirit is the same. It’s magical, yet simple really.“

It may not be your style (personally I’m not sure how many people want my four year old surfing on their couch!), but if you are adventurous and outgoing, willing to meet interesting people, and be a bit more flexible and accepting of a less- than-perfect situation (smaller bed, you pitch in with the dishes, etc), couch surfing might just be for you!

A segment from their mission statement: CouchSurfing (is an international non-profit) seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance and facilitate cultural understanding. As a community we strive to do our individual and collective parts to make the world a better place, and we believe that the surfing of couches is a means to accomplish this goal."
CouchSurfing is


For more details check out www.couchsurfing.comNamaste, my travelers.
BWB

A veteran in the green industry talks travel...

(bio taken from Wild Virginia's website)

Eric Gilchrist is the president of Wild Virginia Board of Directors, principle of Green Resources of Virginia, a consulting firm specializing in marketing sustainable products in Virginia. Eric has over twenty years experience in sales and marketing for large and small companies, including his own for-profit green business. He holds an MBA and BS in Environmental Planning & Management from Penn State. He finished the International Honors Program which entailed studying Global Ecology issues in India, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, England, and Fiji in 1992-1993. He and his wife Deborah love forests and other wild ecosystems.

Eric has been extremely helpful to Betty and I. I thank him for taking the time to sit down and answer some of my travel questions before he and his wife leave for India in the coming days.

T: Tell me about one of your favorite far away destinations? What do you love about it?

E: One of my favorite places is India. I love their deep culture, history, religous tolerance, and of course the people. I appreciate most how emotionally happy many of them are despite lacking high incomes, big houses and other material possessions. Even in the slum areas you will find truly joyful and smiling people.

T: I think we all struggle to find balance in our lives, especially when it comes to having our values be in line with our actions. How do we remain conscious about the environment (on the "path" of green that I've talked about in previous blogs) at the same time recognizing the inevitability of human impact?

E: That is a difficult question I think about almost every day. What makes it tough is that I am mostly conscious of my own impact and it gives me pangs of guilt. Inevitable human impact? We can do our best to educate, advocate, not promote negative activities, and hope we evolve to live as a truly sustainable and natural world.

T:What are some ways the modern e-conscious citizen with wanderlust reconcile the energy-intensive by-product of travel?

E:By participating in carbon off-set programs like the ones mentioned in this web site.http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/documents/op_carbonoffsets.html And, when traveling try to walk and use efficient public transportation. For example, the railroad system in India is very big and used very much. They claim that the India railroads employ 1.5 million people, the world's largest employer. It would be wonderful to have such an employer here in the US and a rail system that can help all people move around affordably and with less energy expenditures.

Thank you, Eric!

Peace,
BWB

Travel under the green microscope: (my interview with Susan McCulley)

Last week I sat down for a brief interview with one of my favorite people in the world: my friend and Nia teacher, Susan McCulley, to talk with her about her travels to the island of Dominica.

T:Tell me how you discovered Dominica?

S:In 2005, my husband and I were looking somewhere warm to spend New Year’s Eve. Frank had remembered hearing about an island get away in the Washington Post, but could only remember that it was coined “The Nature Island.” After Googling it, they found it and fell in love. It’s very rural, very underdeveloped, full of nature - everything that we love. And we were especially impressed with the variety of nature there. It’s only 30 miles long, but it’s mountainous, it has 365 rivers, and both rocky and sandy beaches, and rainforests. The island even has volcanic activity -- so, hot springs. The natural diversity offers activities available for all energy levels as well. Once we were there, was use public transportation and walk rather than rent a car. This forced us to slow our pace, meet people, and really step into the culture, rather than do what so many Americans do when they travel: rent a car and zoom around like crazy people, continuing their current pace of life while on vacation. We chose to take more time to do fewer things. In 2007 we heard about the eco-resort, Jungle Bay.

T:Tell me about what impressed you "betty-wise" about Jungle Bay?

S:We were impressed with the consciousness in everything about the day-to-day operations of the resort. Even in the building of it. They wove their business into the community. They use local recipes - their chef is Dominican (not French like other resorts). They chose farmers and other people in the community who were struggling with the local economy. We are so excited to be leading a retreat in this special place in May (see http://www.bodymindnow.com/retreats.html for all the details!)!

T:Have you researched other eco-destinations?

S:Yes! I’ve done Nia retreats at the Luna Lodge in Costa Rica and Willka T’ika in the Sacred Valley of Peru. And really at this point I will only offer retreats at centers who have approached their business with ecological and social awareness. This enriching, sustainable, environmentally-sensitive component is important to me and totally in line with the principles of Nia and holistic living.

T:Nia has been so helpful for me in learning to “pay attention” to what’s going on in my body - and it helps me pay attention to what’s going on outside my body as well. I recognize that everything is connected and I see myself as a personal ecosystem within the larger eco-system.

S:Yes, the beauty of Nia is that it’s about expanding, enriching the aliveness of my body and helps develop the consciousness, what’s happening in me. And it feels good to be on retreat in a place that has that level of consciousness as well. About their building, their business practice. Of their environment. The internal environment aligns with the external environment of where we stay.

S:And the added bonus with the retreat experience in Nia is that we can use the focus/intention we set in the morning to enhance the activities that occur later in the day. An example would be if we focus on sensation in the morning, then the experience of snorkeling in warm bubbly spring water and biting into the succulent fresh fruit is enhanced. It’s just a great fit.

Susan on travel…
S:The act of travel is very important to me. I’m in an unfamiliar situation so I really pay attention. For me, travel is not about doing the same things I do in my day-to-day. Not about eating the fried eggs I have every morning. It’s about taking safe risks, like we do in Nia. I believe if we allow ourselves to be taken out of our habit, out of the norm we actually burn new neural pathways that help us be more at ease and relaxed in our bodies and our lives. And travel helps me return to my daily life with an expanded awareness and freshness that I can cultivate all the time, in my everyday life. (recommended movie to stimulate this discussion: the accidental tourist, lost in translation, and stranger than fiction)

T:How do you take into account the ecological impact of travel?

S:Well for one, I now have a set of questions I can ask an establishment to determine if that is going to be a good fit. How are you taking into account the energy it takes to transport people around the island, what kinds of foods do you offer, what kind of building techniques did you use for your structures, etc.
It’s important to remember that it’s unrealistic to ask people NOT to travel. There is tremendous value in it. But traveling in an intentional and aware way is what we are striving for.

When I mentioned offsets, Susan said she looks forward to our in-depth look at offsetting options in the blog toward the end of the week, so check back!

For more information about Susan’s retreat to the Nature Island of Dominica to the world-famous Jungle Bay EcoResort and Spa May 16-23, go to http://www.bodymindnow.com/retreats.html and email Susan for registration information!


Peace,
BWB

Part II: green eye on the travel guy (and gal)

This week we will be exploring travel beyond Charlottesville: with a green eye and the travel guy (and gal). After all, what's a Betty to do when the call to travel takes you far and wide?

We will interview three locals who must satisfy their wanderlust now and again, but do it with an eye toward environmental sensitivity: Susan, Black Belt Nia instructor at ACAC, Eric, Director of Piedmont Sustainable Woods, and Katell, a French instructor at Peabody.

We will follow that up next week with a couple of blogs detailing some green tips: offsetting travel, green options for traveling once you get there, and more.

For me getting out of my day-to-day routine and my comfort zone is essential to my personal growth and evolution. I look at travel as absolutely necessary for my own "personal sustainability" and as a parent I think it's one of the best ways to foster the importance of having a broad perspective on human life. Mark Twain said, "Travel is fatal to prejudice."

Traveling allows me to meet new people, see things with new eyes, step beyond into new possibilities. I return with clarity and often resolutions. It's like an extended adult form of "recess." It's essential for my energetic youngest son: with a little outdoor free reign, he comes back more focused and able to concentrate.

So don't be consumed by eco-guilt that next trip you take. Yes, travel is a luxury. Yes, jet engines spew CO2 into the atmosphere with wild abandon (but take heart, in January Virgin Atlantic is the first airline to try biofuel). But I urge you to change the things you are able to, accept those you can't, and become an "intentional tourist."

An intentional tourist:
*brings an awareness and sensitivity to the environmental impact of their travel
*finds ways (big and small) to incorporate "greenness" into their travel
*is willing to do a bit more planning and ask intelligent questions about transportation and accommodation
*when they find an egregious abuse of natural resources at a hotel or restaurant they don't hesitate to shoot off a note to nudge a business in a more earth-sensitive direction (note: hopefully downloadable letters of this type will be available from Betty this fall!)

Tune in tomorrow for our interview with Susan!

Peace,
BWB

Day tripper...

Looking for something to do with the kids that is new and different? Here are some of our favorite day get-aways:

WEST:
Gypsy Hill park in Staunton. My all time favorite park to spend a spring (with the little ducks) or summer (when they're running the kiddie trains) or fall day (with the gorgeous Birch and Maple and Evergreens). I love visiting the pond and then playing in the park, complete with climbing wall and standing teeter/totter. I still don't know why Charlottesville doesn't have something similar. You can even take the train over there from May to October (but I haven't heard the official word yet this year)

SOUTH:
Scottsville. I believe Scoops went out of business. But I'm pretty sure you can get a scoop of ice-cream at one of the downtown shops!

SOUTH EAST:
Maymont Park in Richmond
This is an absolutely gorgeous destination for communing with century old trees or taking an extended walk or feeding the barn animals. ("Barn days" are happening each Sunday from March 30-April 20 and "Herbs Galore" happens at the end of April).

Richmond's Children's Museum (c-mor.org
Gotta love that bigger than life-size mouth and the digestive sounds in stereo!

Richmond's Science Museum
It was too young for our kids last time we went down, but we must return now that they're older.

Richmond's Brave baseball game
I'm partial to kicking back and watching this American pasttime with the kids on a lazy Sunday (just avoid all the plastic bottles and bring your own).

NORTH:
DC Zoo.
Say what you will about some zoos in the US, but this is an amazing resource for understanding and connecting with animals and their ecosystems. Personally, I am more inspired to examine my impact as a human after I spend a few hours in the presence of the newborn elephant, the mommy giraffe, or my new favorite: the large and lazy Hippo (we nicknamed Lumbegga).

Two years ago the national zoo took a leadership role in conservation by drafting the "Conservation Biology Plan." They believe that "the impact of our science can be greatly amplified through professional training in conservation biology and through public education and outreach to inspire others to care for the world’s biological diversity."

So take a car-full of curious to the furthest metro stop, park, and ride the metro in to the Woodley/Park stop, and enjoy. A nice a la carte item: the beautifully diverse, truly American crowd of young and old, every race and religion.

DC Smithsonian museums.
It's hard to take in just one on a day trip, but they are wonderful and FREE (unlike many other similar museums around the world)

SOUTH WEST:
Lynchburg's Amazement Square.
Dine in an old train station by the river after you play for a few hours at the four level at this play place geared for kids 6 and under.

Take a day trip and report back to Betty!
BWB

Local indoor activities with the kids

The weather today belies this post, but here are some fun indoor activities to do with kids at home and around.

HOME:

Grab a bunch of picture books, chapter books, old-school encyclopedias, old Ranger Rick magazines, climb into bed and READ together!

Bake cookies. Our tradition is to bake cookies the first snow fall (which in the 'ville usually means a snow day).

Make forts! This was a favorite of mine as a child. Now after they construct and find books, I dig out the flashlight and we read together

Playdough. Dig into sensation with this therapeutic and creative art. (As you know from a previous blog, my attempts to make homemade playdough have failed - I invite a fail-safe recipe)

Paint! Paint! Paint!

Tell Us a Tale - on the radio on Sundays (which station? good question - I'll get back to you)

Invite a friend over and PLAY.

Play Hide and Seek

If all else fails, pop popcorn and watch the most AMAZING nature video I've ever seen: Planet Earth(just saw it on planetgreen.com for 59$ - that's a steal!)

ELSEWHERE:
Any used bookstore (check under "B" in the Betty directory)
The library check the storytimes at
Barnes and Noble storytime()
An indoor pool - Crowe, UVA's aquatic fitness center (members), ACAC (members)
Albemarle Therapy, 1102 Rosehill Dr. (they used to do playtime for the under 3 set on T, Th 9:30-11)
Cville Coffee (or as my son calls it: the turtle place)
Playground at the Mall (must have patience, lots of patience for this one, and hand sanitizer)
The Discovery Museum (check the Toddler Times for some great activities)
The Village Playhouse (at Hollymead Town Center)
Charlottesville Ice Park (kids as young as 3 can push a bucket around the ice)
Rockclimbing wall (I believe it's on Allied Street - haven't done this one yet)
Summer movie series (use caution) behind Kmart and the Paramount
Watch UVA Wrestling matches (over for now) or Hockey games at Cville Ice Park

I'm sure I'm forgetting some, so please COMMENT and the list and ideas will grow (BTW: I'm working on getting an easier web platform/forum for sharing ideas and such, but it will take some patience)

PEACE,
BWB

Backyard Betty: outdoor fun in and around Charlottesville

When I had my first son I began to compile a list of all the fun indoor and outdoor activities to do in and around Charlottesville with PreK kids (as a stay-home mom, there was only so much playdough and trains I could take!). After 7 years here's the list. I think many of these apply to ALL ages. Feel free to add more!

*Ivy Creek
*Take the city bus to Barracks Road and window shop
*Picnic on the UVA Lawn
*Take the free trolley to the Downtown Mall and eat ice cream at Chaps
*Pen Park Nature Trail
*UVA Athletics at (call 924-UVA1), (though I wish they would lower their prices for kids)
*Monticello trail - this is a beautiful hike year round (I found this great website with further ideas)...
*Belmont Park water play
*Sugar Hollow hike
*Humpback Rock hike (Blue Ridge Parkway)
*O-hill hike (love the candy and dog treats that await you at the top!)
*Polo games in the late spring and summer out 5th street and at King Family Vineyards
*Drive-in at Fork Union (we've actually never found a movie we are willing to take our kids too, but some day...)
*Putt-Putt Miniature Golf on Rio Road
*Wine Festivals (we'll bring the jug of lemonade for the kids)
*Carter Mountain (fruit picking and fall festival)
*The Berry Patch Of Free Union (963-0659).
*Chile's Orchard
*Fry Spring's Beach Club (pool and Volleyball for memebers)
*Washington Park pool
*ACAC Outdoor Water Park (for members)
*fly a kite at Darden Towe Park
*Farmer's Market at Meade Park and Downtown (check Betty directory)

(?for some reason I can't get my links to work tonight, except the last one - i promise that's not intentional)

Tune in tomorrow for rainy day, indoor activities.

Peace,
BWB

Part One of the Intentional Tourist: Backyard Betty!

Join us for a series of blogs entitled, "The Intentional Tourist," where we will explore the concept of eco-friendly travel in an effort to find balance between our personal need to "get away" or seek adventure outside our regular routine, while remaining conscious of the environmental impacts that we may create.

We begin the travel series by stepping into our own backyard. Literally.

I mean leave your computer and go outside right now (ok it may be dark and cold, but you get the idea)!

Sometimes we are so busy noticing the green grass over there, we forget to look right under our feet. So here is a list of fun activities that can connect you to nature, right in your own backyard. This list is in order of easiest to more time-intensive.

1- Take a good old-fashioned walk around the block (or if you live close enough to hope on the Rivanna Trail or another trail, even better)

2- Creative cloud gazing. Directions: Lay on back, enjoy the perspective this offers of the beautiful sky (this is much more fun with kids!), start finding bubbling white Guinness or firey dragons.

3- Get dirty! Gardening is one of the best ways to connect with the earth. Breathe in the smell of dirt and fondle the dirt that provides home to worms, roots, vegetables, bunny rabbits and more!

4 - Go on a bug hunt(or biggest stick hunt or most variety of colored leaves hunt). I always feel it's ok to tote home that (sacrificial) earthworm, knowing that my kids are learning about the underground dwellers we often forget about.

5- Meditate outside. Clear your mind, witness the simplicity and power of deep breaths that offer consciousness to each of the billions of cells in your body.

6- Go fly a kite. With small branches (or 3 plastic straws), scissors, tape, a plastic garbage bag (hopefully you'll have a hard time finding this one in your house), and some string, you can make a great kite. Check out this site:

7- Construct a bird house. An easy version can be found at treehugger.com is to drill a hole through a gourd big enough for the bird (To invite a house wren, choose a gourd at least 4" in diameter, and make a 1" hole.
-carolina wren or chickadee: 5" gourd, 1&1/8" hole.
-tufted titmouse, downy woodpecker or nuthatch: 5" gourd, 1&1/4" hole.
-small owl, bluebird, tree swallow, or hairy woodpecker:
5" gourd, 1&1/2" hole.
- flicker: 7" gourd, 2&1/2" hole.
-purple martin: 8" to 13" gourd, 2&1/2" hole), hollow it out. Find a branch to place under the hole, apply some no-voc paint, and you're good to go!

Enjoy!
BWB

Honoring your green path

We humans have a nasty habit of comparing ourselves with others.

I know I'm guilty of it.

Last week I heard someone praising a member of her office who rode his bike to work, fanatically turned off all the lights (sometimes in rooms where meetings were still taking place), collected the coffee grounds for his home garden, and took it upon himself to make sure the recyclables were actually getting recycled. (Sounds like Betty's boyfriend or something!) This person clearly plays an important role creating a better "office" world.

Now when I first overheard this, I squirmed. My mind immediately went to the fact that I drive my kids around in a compact mini-van that gets at most 19 miles per gallon. Never mind the good stuff happening over here, I should be doing more stuff like that over there.

There are too many incorrect assumptions here to count, but the biggest one is that I could actually bike into town with my two kids, laptop, five recycle bins, and 8-10 cloth reusable bags and, until four weeks ago, my sweet Viszla dog all in tow!

But talk about an inefficient use of energy. Comparing your path with another's. (voice in the head: Oooohh, that one looks so much greener and lush and wow - that's what my path should look like).

My friends, it is a path. It's a process.

The risk when I feel guilty or slip into negative patterns (feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the world's problems, for example) is when I've jumped off the path entirely.

I'm going to honor my "green" path, knowing there will be places where I've planted a seed of change (researching an alternative vehicle), others I'm watering and tending (making alternative choices when it comes to food purchases), some places are lush and blooming (my family accumulates very little trash - we've got the recycling/donating/less consuming thing down pretty well). Other spots have some weeds that haven't been pulled yet because I can't decide if they should stay or not.

So stop and smell the flowers. And realize that yesterday you might have taken a couple steps backward, but tomorrow you'll take one step forward. As long as we stay on the path, we're doing well.

Warm wishes,
BWB

Transgression leads to new-purchase amendment

The first egregious failure in my no-new-purchase buying pledge happened last week.

Luckily, I live with a scientist, so I can say that even failure is success because you learn something. It's true. Failure invites information that is worthy of study and reflection.

In truth, I cannot consider this purchase a total failure.

Let me start by telling you the amendment to said no new-purchase pledge:

**I hereby pledge to NOT purchase anything NEW (excluding items related to food and shelter) that doesn't in some way contribute to the WELL-BEING or BETTERMENT of the planet. (Right now my husband is making a very strong argument about decent sleepwear somehow helping the earth)**

Seriously, I failed to notice upon making the pledge that it didn't really take into account those good choices we can make that can actually help the planet rather than harm. For example that maple tree I want to plant this spring in the front yard. And I'm really wanting another tree for the backyard. Afterall, trees help us reduce the earth's temperature. My seven-yr old said the other day --standing next to a tree helps you breathe better, mom! I also have plans for a few window boxes (check a future blog to see what my research has turned up in the way of a sustainable product there).

But another important consideration: replacing inefficient, energy losers in the home, with better, greener alternatives.

Thus the amendment.**

Our new purchase item: an energy-star Bosch dishwasher.

Our existing dishwasher was a useless water waster that has been approaching death for several months now. In two weeks, when I take it to Coiner's, that death will be official.

But here's the way I went about this BIG DEAL purchase for our home.

Step one: RESEARCH.

I spent one hour in the library and on the internet and on the phone (which isn't a lot of time when you think about it), researching the best energy efficient dishwasher (budget and noise allowance were also considered). The winner: the Bosch she45co{2}UC. I researched consumer reports and energystar.gov, as well as asked detailed questions of the company. One calculator estimated 80 dollars per year of savings using this model over our existing, conventional one. Each cycle uses only 5 gallons. Hand-washing has been proven to use far more than that (especially the way some people wash, with the spout continuously running). No joke, Mom. Also, Bosch (moreso than Kenmore, another consumer "best buy") has a strong committment to making a long-lasting high energy-efficient products.

Step Two: What to do with the old one.

I called my plumber who will be installing it and ask him what can I do with my old dishwasher (clearly I can't give it to someone else, so that they can waste energy), he says he will "dispose" of it. What does that mean, I ask. "I'll take it to the dump." "Eeks. So it can sit in the landfill?" No way. So I tell him I will take it to Coiner's Scrap Metal myself.

Step 3 - It's still important to keep in mind these energy saving tips:

1- run the dishwasher with a full load, always!
2- AVOID heat-dry, rinse hold, pre-rinse cycles (energy intensive)
3- unless you have a really dirty batch, wash on the shorter cycle
(4- if you can ultra-conserve on water using a rinse bowl, instead of running the spout full blast for rinsing, maybe you can use less than 5 gallons for a full load But I can't with family of four, eating at least two meals a day at home)


Peace,
BWB

**To clarify: purchasing this product is not like planting a tree, but it is a better, smarter alternative to one that is ineffective and a waste of precious resources.