cvillebettyblog

The next generation Betty: Welcome these tips from local teenager!

2012-01-27T08:29:00.000-08:00

Teresa approached me several months ago wanting to help serve the community Betty-style so I suggested some guest blogs. Here's the first installment. Enjoy and thanks for making a difference, Teresa!

Hi! My name is Teresa and I am a 9th grader at Albemarle High School. I am interested in environmental issues because I am very concerned about the impact that global warming will have on our future. I’m volunteering with Better World Betty because I would love to help make people more aware that global warming is a problem and that we need to reduce our carbon footprint.

I recently read an article (http://news.cnet.com/Earths-temperature-at-400-year-high/2100-11395_3-6087108.html) that stated that the temperature on the Earth is higher than it has been for the past 400 years! In the past century, the Earth’s temperature has risen 1 degree Fahrenheit. However, the rate of temperature increase will accelerate due to retreating glaciers. Ice reflects the sun, so as more glaciers melt, the Earth will absorb more heat.

Most people do not think a 1 degree rise in temperature is much at all (I definitely did not), but it turns out that even small changes in temperature can have a huge impact on Earth. A predicted 5 to 8 degree temperature rise in the next 100 years could cause sea levels to rise half a meter, put some island nations underwater, and wreak havoc in many areas of the world.

But I think the most surprising fact in the article is that 6 to 10 degrees is the difference between today and the deepest ice age!

Most of the recent increase in temperature is caused by human activity, so we definitely need to make it a priority to take action now to slow down global warming.

Here are a few small things my family does to reduce our carbon footprint:

1. We unplug electronics when not in use. Leaving items like laptops, cable boxes, and game units plugged in all the time can waste a lot of energy.
2. We take short showers.
3. We bring our own reusable bags when we grocery shop and our own reusable containers for restaurant leftovers.
4. With the holidays approaching, we will avoid excessive use of wrapping paper by using reusable gift bags, recycled wrapping paper or even the comics from the newspaper.
5. We go to the Better World Betty website for more recipes for green living!

Hopes this helps!
T

Time for a Pantry Raid

2012-01-13T03:27:00.000-08:00

Pantry raid
(Find this article here or in newsstands at www.c-ville.com/Abode

Take a moment and consider how much coffee, chocolate, and flour you go through every week. Unfortunately, from farm to cup and bean to bar, chocolate and coffee (along with other staples) both involve an intense process to reach our mouths. This new year, green-raid your pantry and replace accordingly!

Coffee
Fair-trade, shade-grown, organic. It’s hard to keep track, and it’s about to get harder with the recent split between certifying organizations Fair Trade USA and Fairtrade International. For now, these labels are the best way to protect against land loss, help smaller producers have access to resources, promote sustainable practices, and ensure a fair wage. Significant acreage of rainforest is lost every year due to cheap, monoculturally-grown coffee. Bird- and forest-lovers (isn’t that all of us?), look for the Smithsonian Bird-Friendly and Rainforest Alliance labels. The good news: Locally roasted coffee is readily available.

Chocolate
Again, fair-trade organic chocolate is best. Divine Chocolate is 45 percent owned by the Ghanaian farmers who supply its cocoa beans.

Sugar
I recommend agave nectar, honey, stevia, or organic varieties like Florida Crystals.

Flour
Virginia has its own mill: Wade’s Mill, sold at local markets!
Tea and spice
The same designations are important here. What better time to make the switch? The new Spice Diva at Main Street Market is offering a 30 percent discount to folks who bring in their spices to exchange.

Want to know more about specific brands or other food producers? I love these two websites: www.localharvest.org and www.greenamerica.org. Find local sources of sustainably grown food in your area along with green brands and companies.

6 ways to shop local

2011-12-12T20:02:00.001-08:00

6 ways to shop local! Check out this article here, in newsstands or online at Abode

This season, Betty helps you think outside the gift box. Don’t fall into the Amazon trap; instead, give the gift of patronizing local businesses!

1. Couch shoppers, head to a cool new online gift shop created by Kate Bennis, Redbud Gifts, which offers local gifts, goodies, and experiences as well as charitable giving opportunities. Purchase a massage or language class, or have a local filmmaker “make your movie.” Everything in the shop originates within 100 miles of Charlottesville. See redbudgifts.com.

2. Visit the Craftacular, a favorite venue of mine for unique hand-made gifts featuring local artists and designers, held this year at Cityspace on December 10 and 11, 10am-6pm.

3. Check out the great selection of upcycled clothing at Firefish Gallery, on Second St. NW just off the Mall.

4. Choose a book written by Virginia authors at Crozet’s Over the Moon Bookstore and Gallery or at one of the many used bookstores in town.

5. Support the local live-performance scene with tickets to a show at the Jefferson Theater, The Southern, Paramount or Live Arts.

6. Bring your holiday host a fine Virginia wine, or Red Rocker Candy (I’m addicted) made in Troy.

Happy Holidays! Betty

2011-11-03T18:22:00.001-07:00

Find this story online at Cville Weekly or in local newsstands!

This month, Betty highlights two local artists/creative recyclers, sure to bring out the green giver in you!

Bill Hess, a glass sculptor/artist, and Andy Faith, a mixed media artist, are both archaeologists of sorts with a love of found objects. Both have been known to “dumpster dive” as well as scour junkyards in search of treasures. With all the wonderful materials, textures, colors, and “stuff” available for free,who needs to go out and buy new?

Hess, who is also an engineer, loves reclaiming bits of glass (I once took him a broken vase) and embracing the design challenge of transforming it into something useable like counter tops, tiles,houses, and lamps. Hess’s latest project actually combines recycled glass and activism via a glass greenhouse in Mongolia.

Faith is a woman after my own heart –a collector of ALL things. The City thought she took it a bit too far a few years ago, telling her to clean up her backyard of “future art” (scrap metal) or serve jail time!

She says that “Street trash just isn’t what it used to be,” so she’s thankful that people keep giving her “junk”— broken jewelry, Brillo pads, you name it. Her specialty and a popular holiday gift item are her infamous “overaccessorized” objects. People bring her shoes, chairs, anything really, to have her add recycled/found flair to it. Remember the Barbie Christmas tree at the Consignment House? That was Faith’s. She likes to tell stories with her art–the tragedy and comedy of life and sometimes social commentary–while enjoying the play and the process.

Hess’s work can be found at Vivian’s Art to Wear, Muses, and Etsy, and Faith’s can be found at McGuffey Art Center. Other great places to access local, hand-made art are Cville art, Bozart, and other local art galleries, as well as Etsy shops, where you can search by “recycled materials.”

Go on now, green givers and support the local art scene...

BWB

Do everyone a party favor... go zero-waste!

2011-10-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

Fall is here, which means a parade of various holiday events is about to begin. This time, can you strive for a no-waste party? I gleaned some tips from VMDO architects, who host a large fall office party every year and pride themselves on being low-waste and locally-focused.

Think reuse, not single-use when it comes to party planning.

First, invitations. Going digital is the obvious greenest option, but VMDO created an invitation/keepsake for guests, making invitations on cards with slots so guests could build card houses.

Do you already have decorations that would work? Can you borrow? Can you scout local consignment shops or Craigslist instead of buying new? Fill vases with recycled paper bouquets or create an art centerpiece which can be taken home by guests. A potted plant would work. Balloons are festive, but so are greener alternatives like recycled-paper streamers. VMDO decided no more flowers from overseas, so they asked everyone to look in their yard and bring flowers, turning it into a flower-arranging bonding affair for the office.

For food, think “100-mile diet” and “farm-fresh produce.” Don’t want to cook yourself? Call Gus and his crew at Harvest Moon Catering, a sustainable and local-minded food operation. They can supply dinnerware and composting with the help of the folks at Timbercreek Organics.

Ask guests to BYOF (bring your own flatware), or you can offer finger foods to avoid the need altogether.

Reusable linens rather than the single-cloth plastic or vinyl is a greener choice. Want someone else to handle that? Virginia Linens has a sustainability focus in the cleaning of their linens.

One more idea: Can you offer a special party perk for your carpooling guests?

In-joy,
BWB

Up your recycling odds

2011-09-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

Find this article in Abode magazine or online

Recycling the weird stuff...

Even the Bettiest among us runs into some recycling conundrums now and again. So I called Sonny Beale, University of Virginia Recycling Program Superintendent who’s been there over 24 years, for a little help.

1- Bulk styrofoam (actually expanded polystyrene): the bane of environmentalists everywhere. McIntire Recycling, as well as any packing stores in town, will accept and reuse the peanuts, but not the bulk pieces. Sonny reports Styrofoam, in fact, can be recycled over and over again, but requires a heavy-duty expensive condensifier which Cville doesn’t have. (Any interested buyers out there? According to Beale, it’s a hot commodity)

2- Plastic Peanut Butter Tub: don’t waste copious amounts of water cleaning the jar. Give it to your favorite pet dog to lick it clean! Then recycle as normal.

3- Whipped Cream (or other liquid) aerosol can with the top broken off: As long as it’s empty, non-flammable, non-hazardous waste those can be recycled as steel. If it’s full, no go. Also, if it contained any highly toxic fluid( for example auto fluids like antifreeze, transmission fluid) or pesticides, it’s landfill-bound.

4- Hard plastics without numbers: sorry! They actually can be recycled, but not in this area.

5- Clothing that is stained, torn or otherwise unwearable? Get creative and use them at home to wrap small gifts or use as cleaning rags.

6- Prescription Bottles: Call your local pharmacist to inquire about take-back programs or wait to hear about the next big take-back event at Martha Jefferson Hospital (last year in May) where they properly dispose of medicines and recycle the bottles.

7- Half-full steel paint cans? Take eco-friendly cat litter or shred yesterday’s newspaper into bits to soak up all unused paint, then recycle as normal steel. Most are now plastic and can be recycled when empty.

Hope that increases your recycling odds.

Betty

What's on Betty's Bookshelf?

2011-08-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

Starting off the Sunday slow with some great reads, so I thought I'd share!

I feel remiss that some of these are still on the shelf, but hey, I need to give myself a break. Starting a non-profit, or any ground-up endeavor for that matter, as well as being a single-mother of two active boys doesn't leave a whole lot of free time, ya know?!

Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken. With the recent kick-off of the Better Business Challenge I was excited to get inspired by the pioneer of sustainaiblity in business. This book will continue to inspire change for generations...

Same can be said of Cradle-to-Cradle by Cville's own Michael Braungart and William McDonough which I feel totally embarassed admitting this publically: I'm still not finished with this important work. (Points for honesty?)

The Better World Handbook Small Changes That Make A Big Difference by Ellis Jones, Ross Haenfler and Brett Johnson I found this book ten years ago and refer to it often. Instrumental in creating the vision for Better World Betty.

Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky. A bunch of great ideas on turning vision to reality and creating action-oriented methods for making ideas a reality.

The Nonprofit Board ANSWER BOOK. Borrowing this from Center for Non-Profit Excellence. Next 18 months Betty's transitioning from an advisory board to a governing/working board. Betty's growing up!

I just cracked open: Getting Things Done by David Allen. A friend of mine says this one's a must for busy multi-taskers like myself.

Fostering Sustainable Behavior by Doug McKenzie-Mohr. Read this several years ago - relevant, helpful, inspiring.

Always on the shelf: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Nothing short of life-changing.

Just purchased: highly recommended If the Buddha Dated by Charlotte Kasl. that's for a different blog...

Still want to read: LOADS of books! Including...

Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine M. Benyus

Better Bylaws (yawn) I'm sure it has important infomation

and with a name like Betty, how can one go wrong with this humorous guidebook:
Backcountry Betty by Jennifer Worick. A "Tongue-in-cheek wilderness manual for women who appreciate nature but prefer to maintain their coiffure while interacting with it" I'm pretty OK with an unshowered do, but could be funny!

Best,
Betty

Fridge and Freezer Tips from Betty

2011-08-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

A greener cool
Read this Abode article here or on Cville Weekly's website...

What is the one appliance in your home that is on ALL the time, and yet is absolutely essential even for the carbon tiptoers? Your refrigerator/freezer. This month Betty helps you reduce costs on the biggest loser in your kitchen.

First, if your fridge is older than 10 years, you should really replace it with a newer EnergyStar model, which can be as much as 40 percent more efficient. Remember: a top/bottom style is good and freezer on top is the best. Ditch the auto ice-makers and through-the-door dispensers, which increase energy use by 14–20 percent.

Keeping your existing model? Here are some considerations for placement, maintenance and usage. Place away from stoves or direct sunlight, areas where your fridge has to work harder. Vacuum the coils every six months or less. Set the fridge temperature at 35-38 degrees. And please, remember to close the door! According to Home Energy Magazine, door openings account for 7 percent of your fridge energy use.

Now here’s another “cool” tip: place a dollar bill in the door of the fridge and see if it holds. If it falls out easily, you need to fix the seal.

As for freezers, most new models self-defrost, but older models require regular defrosting. A friend recently confessed that she changed her garage freezer when she finally realized it was heating their garage instead of keeping food frozen. Also, keep your freezer packed, so that it doesn’t have to work as hard. You can do this by even filling plastic milk jugs with water (allow for expansion).

Finally, make sure you dispose of your old refrigerator properly by taking it to Cycle Systems where refrigerants can be drained and the scrap metal re-used.

Hope that helps!
Better World Betty

Betty's Top 5 Beach-Inspired Tips for a Greener Summer

2011-07-01T05:04:00.000-07:00

Summer time and I'm blogging to you from the beach today. Seeing people with mounds of plastic water bottles, smelling charcoal briquettes, and picking up litter from fireworks left on the beach inspired this blog topic which I shared with you on 106 the Corner this morning...

1- Can charcoal grilling be greener?? There actually are alternatives to the traditional charcoal grilling with less deforestation, fewer gas and soot emissions, and healthier food. Look for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) label. They have stringent guidelines in six key areas which require, among other things, the use of sustainably harvested wood. At Lowe's and Whole Foods, you should be able to find a couple of brands - one being Cowboy lump charcoal. There is also "Green link" and even one made of coconut husks.

2- Sunscreen: go to the Sunscreen Database at the Environmental Working Group's website. They rate sunscreens on a scale of 1-10 according to hazardous ingredients. My column in next month's Abode magazine comes out this Tuesday about personal care products for more information. You may not realized that cosmetics in this country are not regulated. Unfortunately there are many unsafe chemicals in our shampoos, shaving creams, and sunscreeens. Lead (in lipstick), formaldehyde, benzoate,parabens,BHA, etc - harmful chemicals are rampant so check out their extensive website. And think about donating 5-10 dollars to keep the website funded.

3-Disposables: Plastic cups, foam and paper plates, paper napkins. You've heard the familiar family mantra: "We don't want to worry about dishes, let's just use paper plates." Wrong. Why not feel great about protecting Earth's resources and do some serious family bonding by asking everyone to BYOF - bring your own flatware - and rinse your dishes after the meal on-site. Invest in a couple of tubs - one for washing and one for rinsing or wash when you get home and your family is well on its way to a lower waste or zero waste event (if one of you composts).

4-Water bottles: We consume 160 million water bottles a day in America. The problem according to back2tap.com:

•Picture a disposable water bottle ¼ full of petroleum. That is how much petroleum it takes to make and distribute a single plastic bottle of water.
•It takes THREE bottles of water to make and distribute ONE disposable plastic bottle of water.
•120 grams of greenhouse gases are generated by a single disposable plastic bottle of water.

Encourage family and friends to carry their own reusable water bottle containers and/or invest in a cooler for those big family summer barbeques.

5 - Seafood Choices: Help keep our oceans alive and well by being a smart consumer of fish. Buy sustainable fish. But how? I use the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Card: to download your seafood wallet card.

•Blue Ocean Institute
•Environmental Defense Fund
•Marine Stewardship Council
•Monterey Bay Aquarium
•KidSafe Seafood Program From SeaWeb

Summertime is free and easy and beautiful. Let's keep it that way by being conscious of our choices. Best, BWB

Cooling off in the summer... less is more

2011-06-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

Find this article at C-ville Weekly newsstands, online, or right here!

Who doesn’t remember splashing in a sky-blue plastic wading pool, flopping onto a vinyl yellow slip n’ slide, or running through the sprinklers? Nothing beats the hot summer sun like the cold splash of water. But can we have fun without all the plastic paraphernalia and water waste? Here are Betty’s secrets.
Mother Nature: Wait for a summer rain to play.
Share: Join a community pool instead of purchasing your own plastic pool or splash equipment.
Two birds: If you absolutely need to water the garden or your flowers or a brown patch of grass, turn on the sprinkler but avoid the hottest hours of the day: post-lunch to 4pm.
Save the leftovers: Use plastic milk jugs with their tops removed, recycled yogurt containers or big buckets, placing them to catch the water. See how much you can collect.
Awareness raising: Americans uses 100 gallons of water a day compared to much of the world consuming 31 gallons or less per day. So each summer our family celebrates “water week.”
We track our water use, using online water calculators. There’s one that takes less than 10 minutes at wateruseitwisely.com. This tool from Siemens and Facebook shows your water use compared to other friends AND to other countries.
We borrow water books from the local library (check out our fave: A Drop of Water by Walter Wick). We study where our water comes from. And we play in the rivers and lakes. Naturally, water-saving actions arise and we have fun doing it.
Increasing drought conditions and our local water plan controversy help us realize that there is no resource more precious than water. So let’s use it wisely!

Houseplant helpers

2011-05-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

Find this article in Cville Weekly's Abode

What do draperies, traditionally dry-cleaned clothing, men's aftershave, and flooring materials potentially have in common? They could be off-gassing formaldehyde, terpene, and other chemicals into your home. One solution? Let beautiful houseplants do the purifying work for you through their natural process of breathing oxygen into the air.

Kelly Agee of local nursery Elzroth and Thompson says, "The broader the leaf, the more purifying it is." You'll be needing over a dozen to really cleanse the air. Here are the top recommendations from National Geographic's Illustrated Green Guide:

Boston fern
golden pothos
spider plants
(known to reduce levels of formaldehyde)

areca palm
moth orchids
dwarf date palm
(reduce xylene and toluene)

gerbera daisy
chrysanthemum
spider plants
peace lilies
(reduce benzene)

Other healthy plants include bamboo palm, Chinese evergreen, English ivy, indoor Dracaena species and the snake plant. Now you can breathe a little deeper knowing your houseplants are helping!

Great Consignment Sale!!

2011-04-29T05:21:00.000-07:00

THIS IN FROM A LOYAL BETTER WORLD BETTY-IST

Hi lovelies,

the first is my favorite consignment sale: "Divine Consign." i am one of many consigners who together are selling nearly 13,000 items. you can find ladies clothing, housewares, books, and great gifts for few dollars. if you wear a size 7 or 7 1/2 shoe, for example, there are over 130 pairs that await you . . .

it is located at aldersgate church on rio road and begins tomorrow. here are the dates:

Friday, April 29th

10am-6pm (Full Price)

Saturday, April 30th

10am-6pm (Full Price)

Monday, May 2nd

10am-6pm (25% off most items)

Tuesday, May 3rd

12pm-8pm (50% off most items)

Wednesday, May 4th

10am-6pm (50% off most items)

for more info: http://www.cvilledivineconsign.com/main/Home.html

EARTH DAY 2011

2011-04-26T19:28:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe another Earth Day has come and gone! Here are some of the Highlights from the Betty booth...

32 young people "planted" their seed of intention in edible dirt (above picture - I'm handing the dirt to a surprised little guy!): they wrote one thing they would do for the Earth in the next month. My favorite: check out more books from the library. Some others were:

I will finally make a habit of using my reusable water bottle.
I will start composting.
I will use only one paper towel in public restrooms if they don't have an air dryer.
I will volunteer for Wild Virginia.
I will take myself off junk mail lists.
I will bring my own mug everywhere.
I will recycle my ink toner at work.

Thanks, everyone.

Also... 1061 the Corner played Betty's three Earth Songs. Staple It Together by Jack Johnson, Nothing But Flowers by the Talking Heads, Society by Eddie Vedder from Into the Wild Soundtrack (I love eddie vedder and the tribute to Chris McCandless).

Other cool news: We raffled off 3 Betty t-shirts. We received more than 20 new subscribers to the newsletter. And 7 business owners are already interested in joining our Better Business Challenge launching SOON!

All in all it was a beautiful day of interacting with Betty-loving, Earth-loving doers who want a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable Charlottesville for generations upon generations.

Thank you to my Western Albemarle Student Volunteers: Anna, Hannah, and Leah who helped make edible dirt for the kids and who made beautiful earrings and necklaces made of recycled wrapping paper.

Best, BWB

Like a green neighbor, Betty is there...

2011-04-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

Our ability to think creatively is essential for these personally and planetarily challenging times. This month Betty has inventive ideas for saving money and resources, including gas.

Beyond the clothing swap

Bring some clothes to the party, take some home. Easy and fun, right? Why not try a book swap, a DVD swap, a CD swap? What about exchanging meals? Get together with a friend on a Sunday afternoon, each make two meals for two families, and exchange: leave with four meals!

Hardware help

Drills, saws, screws of every size. Toolbox items can really add up and why, if we have a network of close friends or neighbors, couldn’t we all share? Introducing the traveling toolbox. Everyone pitches in money or tools to create a collective toolbox for everyone’s use.

Traveling toys

Parents know how quickly toys pile up and become less than interesting. When my kids were little a group of moms and I started a toy exchange. Once a month we would fill a basket with five to 10 toys, books, and puzzles and then rotate. The goodies were a “new to you” alternative to store-bought items.

The grocery trip tree

Another idea to save on extra trips (and rising gas costs) is to create a phone tree of neighbors who are willing to pick up a couple of grocery items for other neighbors. Like this: before my weekly grocery trip, I call Karen and Frank from the list to see if they need me to pick up anything. I pick up one to two items ($10 maximum) and they pay me back immediately or keep a tally and pay monthly. As a group, you lay the ground rules according to comfort level. I did this with an elderly neighbor and it worked well.

Do you have some other great green ideas?? Email Betty at betty@betterworldbetty.org

SLOW is the (green) way to go...

2011-03-15T18:38:00.000-07:00

OK. It's been a while since I got real and shared a green confession. But here goes.

My biggest hurdle to sticking with my e-conscious way of living is the speed at which I go through life.

And I'm not just talking about the fact that it pains me to go 55-60 miles per hour on the highway even though I KNOW that is going to reap the best rewards in terms of gas mileage. I set the cruise to 59 and SLOW down until I realize I'm five minutes late to my time management meeting (only slightly kidding)!

Why is it so hard to slow down?! It's why I have scratches on almost every single one of my fingers and my ankles (I nearly ran over my entire foot today rolling a shelving cart in the library!). I hit the ground running. I've always been this way. And I'm not alone. We are moving SO fast these days.

I remember my parents sitting me down when I was in elementary school, explaining to me that I need to SLOW DOWN and listen to ALL the directions. My teachers were saying I get up and run away mid-sentence. "Like right now!" I remember my exasperated parents saying mid-lecture. I was getting up to go back outside to play.

I get things done by rushing. It's the reason I'm able to be a library assistant, then a mom, then Betty. Case in point I wait until the last minute to think about what is for dinner and end up buying a farm-raised fish --on the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch list, yes -- but it's been flown halfway across the globe, for Earth's sake!

I cut corners, I pause through stop signs, I forget to sign the homework, and I let unmended clothes pile up. I'm not proud of it, but would I really be here as Bettty if I didn't?

All rationalizing aside, tonight I'm slowing down.

Once again it comes from the prompting of my favorite eco-inspirations in the world: one of my adorable sons.

"Mom, you said you would sew that weeks ago!"

"Yup. Pinky promise - I'm doing it tonight."

So I dig out the needle and thread and here I sit, sewing the cuff of my son's favorite jacket (a hand me down from his older friend Stephen) and planning the next few meals deliberately, slowly, consciously so I can actually slip into hugging the tree instead of slamming into it head first. Aaaahhhh. That's better.

BWB

Charge it! With Betty's help...

2011-03-07T05:42:00.000-08:00

Charging ahead

Whether you have one in your watch, cell phone, wall clock or TV remote, a collection of batteries of all shapes and sizes is at work in your home.
This month Betty provides the 411 on battery use and disposal.

The average American throws away eight household batteries per year, which some say is fine for landfills, but considering all batteries contain heavy metals, the truth is they should be recycled. The acid can be reused and the rest is melted down to scrap metal or converted to a new battery, making them 100 percent recyclable.

Which kind?

Rule of thumb for alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, D, etc.): In low-tech items (remote controls and smoke detectors), single use are a better choice because they drain slowly and last longer. For high-tech items, definitely use rechargeables.

Prolonging battery life

. Do not return a fully charged battery to the charger.
. Let discharged battery cool to room temp before recharging.
. Recharge batteries when almost fully discharged.
. Don't leave them charging for prolonged periods.
. Refrigerating batteries extends their shelf life (but let batteries
reach room temperature before using).

Recycling

For household rechargeables and NiCad (nickel cadmium), try Batteries Plus, Staples and Best Buy, since McIntire no longer accepts them. Most cell phone retailers take phone batteries (made of lithium ion) for recycling. Lead acid-filled car batteries can be recycled at Auto Zone or other auto retailers. Button cell batteries (found in wall clocks and wristwatches) contain silver oxide and therefore are designated hazardous waste and legally cannot be trashed, so wait for the next household hazardous waste day. For more battery information and locations call 1-877-2-RECYCLE (www.call2recycle.org).

2011-02-22T05:31:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this guest blog from Betty's friend, Sheffield...

Over the past few years, UVA students from various fraternities and sororities have tried through various organizations to promote recycling after fraternity parties. I was involved in a Student Council task force in 2009 before we realized that two other groups simultaneously attempting to solve the same problem. At last, the student organization Greek Recycling has finally succeeded in promoting recycling in the fraternity houses after parties.

“We picked up around 5000 pounds last fall which we considered to be a big success for our first semester of picking up. Our goal for this semester is 8000 pounds and I think we can easily attain that,” said Robert Chapman, the 3rd year Engineer and new Greek Recycling leader.

Chapman, who was also elected on Thursday night as the new chair of the Inter-fraternity Council’s Sustainability efforts, has really worked hard to get this group up and running.

“With most of the original members graduating last year, Robert quickly filled their shoes and led to the quick growth of the group,” said Peter Simasek, a 4th year in the Commerce School and one of the founders of Greek Recycling. The organization has come far in the past few years and built great momentum.

NBC 29 story on Greek Recycling: http://www.nbc29.com/global/category.asp?c=175568&clipId=5587891&topVideoCatNo=82958&autoStart=true

“It’s a great group to be involved in and a good way to make a very real difference in our Charlottesville community and especially in this rugby road area,” says Chapman.

-Sheffield Hale
www.mnn.com/users/shale

Using good scents

2011-02-01T05:32:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this month's article in Abode magazine reprinted here...

I strolled into the office yesterday and my nose was met with the powerful scent of my co-workers’ new cinnamon plug-in air freshener. The scent may be enticing, but many don’t realize that commercially sold air fragrances in aerosols, powders, and foams are unnecessary and sometimes polluting to indoor air quality. Phthalates as well as a plethora of other irritants can be released, not to mention toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), causing headaches or worse with people sensitive to allergens.

If you’re using air fresheners, ask yourself, what is your intention—to mask an odor or add a scent? If it’s the former, can you eliminate the offending odor? Does your trash can need cleaning or your bathroom need scrubbing? When was the last time the dog was bathed? Preventatively, sprinkling baking soda at the bottom of your trash cans and on the floor before vacuuming really helps.

Now let’s talk about adding scents naturally. Soy or beeswax candles scented with essential oils are great alternatives to the petroleum variety. Rather than burning incense (the smoke is harmful in large quantities), boil cinnamon sticks and cloves in a pan of H20. Can you get creative by making your own potpourri of dried flowers and spices? Lavender is one of my favorites. I keep a bag of cedar chips from a diseased cedar in my linen drawer. A rosemary plant in your kitchen can double as cooking ingredient.

Finally, bamboo sticks dipped in your favorite pure essential oil (try eucalyptus, lemon, or tea tree) look and smell nice.

In-joy,
BWB

take one for the trees...

2011-01-26T19:13:00.000-08:00

My eldest son and I have verbally jousted and butt heads since conception. Those things that will serve him well later in life - a sharp tongue, quick wit, and killer perseverence and strive to be independent - right now can be a real pain in the you-know-what. Parents, you know of what I speak.

So yesterday my boys and I venture into my less than favorite big box office supply store (sacrifice we made rather than adding car miles to our daily footprint). Today's case in point on the parental battlefront: a new math binder.

"Choose a new binder for yourself." I let the phrase escape my lips without considering that his fierce independence would put the Betty-approved 100% recycled binder squarely in last place on his list.

Of course he picks up the Made in Taiwan, bleached paper, 0% recycled paper, dead tree variety and begins to dig in his heels in that familiar way. "This one," he declares.

I sigh. "Nope. Sorry, Pal. I'm not buying that one." And I go through the litany of environmental offenses and call up our family love of trees.

"But you said..." I know and that was before your mother remembered that she's Betty and I can no more bring herself to buy that binder than go thru the McDonald's drive through, I think to myself. "That one has a leaf on it," he states his main objection.

"OK so X out the leaf when we get home, if you don't like it."

He's glaring now.

"Choose one of these made from recycled paper. See? Look. This one has guitars on it and no trees were harmed in the making of this one and we love our trees, right?"

He is unmoved.

And I know this is about differentiation and choice and all that developmental shmah. I could have easily caved here. We're both tired and after all it's only one notebook, right. But that's really not the way I run my life. I believe small acts of love add up to make a difference. I say this in an aisle piled ten-feet high with bleached white paper, imagining thousands upon thousands of these black and white composition books in stores everywhere. And I want to show my son that our choices DO make a difference.

I hold my ground. After several uncomfortable minutes he reaches for the recycled notebook with the leaf.

Phew. Trees: 1pt. I give him a shoulder hug. "Good job, Buddy."

BWB

A Greener View from Betty

2011-01-18T18:28:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this month's tips from Betty on window treatments here or in the newsstands or at on Abode.

The windows in your home likely offer a beautiful view of the great outdoors, but did you know that they may be costing you as much as a fourth of your total heating/cooling expenses? So after you’ve caulked and weatherstripped your windows to reduce air leakage, Betty recommends purchasing eco-friendly window treatments. Blinds, shades, and draperies can reduce heat loss up to 10 percent in the winter and cut heat gain by 45 percent in the summer.

Curtains
You’ll want to stay away from petroleum-based material like polyester, nylon or rayon and purchase organic cotton, linen, silk, or naturally fire-resistant wool. Ideally, buy a thick material that’s light-colored on one side and dark-colored on the other side so you can reverse them for the seasons. The drapes should overlap in the center and cover the window completely. When you clean them, opt for CO2 cleaning rather than the polluting percholoroethylene dry-cleaning.

Blinds
Stay away from PVC or vinyl mini-blinds popular in the mid-‘90s, as some manufactured outside the U.S. contain lead. Unsure? Remove if installed before 1997. FSC-certified, low-VOC finish wood blinds are available at most online and brick-and-mortar retailers. However, roll-down or Roman shades made of natural bamboo, sisal, or other grass are a nice tree-friendly wood alternative.

At our home we did a combination of insulated natural grass blinds with a dark curtain for added efficiency. Until we could afford expensive new windows, this was an energy-smart solution.

Here's to blinds that help you see the green - in your pocket in terms of energy savings AND in your enviro-wise action!

Best,
Betty

What's on Betty's (Sustainably Harvested Wood) Coffee Table??

2010-12-07T17:57:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this month's Abode Column from Better World Betty here or online or on newsstands

Coffee table reads

This month Betty shares with you some of her favorite green reads to place on your sustainably harvested wood coffee table!

The first choice for local tree-huggers like myself is The Remarkable Trees of Virginia: a beautiful culmination of a four-year effort to “locate and describe the state’s most interesting and significant trees.” It includes photography by local Robert Llewellyn.

More practical would be The Better World Handbook, a comprehensive guide to green living subtitled “Good Intentions to Everyday Actions.” Its simple cover and pragmatism makes it a classic and part of Betty’s inspiration.

I also like The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices.

Cradle-to-Cradle is a must, written by local eco-visionaries William McDonough and Michael Braungart, who also launched an international product certification program.

For a wide audience including kids, How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: 365 Simple Ways to Save Energy, Resources and Money by Joanna Yarrow is colorful and engaging, raising awareness with a call to action.

The former English teacher in me loves Recycle This Book, a creative compilation of 100 top children’s authors’ tales of going green.

Feeling funny? Put out a tongue-in-cheek title like Wake up and Smell the Planet or How I Save 1/16th of a Billionth of the Planet by James Glave. As a former “cul-de-sactivist,” I can’t wait to crack this one open for some laughs.

Finally, what coffee table would be complete without a copy of Dr. Suess’ The Lorax?

I suggest buying these books from our local independent booksellers (Over the Moon, for example) for that Betty or Baldwin in your life!

PS
After writing this column I found the amazing book: The Treehouse Book by Peter and Judy Nelson with David Larkin.

BWB

Do you want more local food at convenient locations??

2010-11-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

Take this survey...

A friend of mine is considering opening a locally-owned, full-service grocery store in Charlottesville, with a commitment to sustainability and local food, and a focus on finding food justice solutions in our community. She asked Betty to get the word out to BWB peeps about aLOCAL FOOD SURVEY because she wants wants to serve the our local needs. In her words, "Your honest feedback would help us to determine the viability of her vision. Please only respond if you regularly shop for food in the Charlottesville area. Thank you!"

It’s here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PRQNBT8

Thanks Rachael and friends!
BWB

Betty sheds some light on the subject...

2010-11-09T18:37:00.001-08:00

Enjoy this month's Abode column here or in the newsstands or online:

Show me the light
Lighting accounts for 20 percent of the average monthly electric bill, so this month’s column promises to turn you on with cost savings!
By now you’ve heard of CFL bulbs, but LEDs are getting a lot of ink, too. Which is greener? Here’s Betty’s comparison:

Compact fluorescent lighting (CFL)
It’s true that if every American changed just one incandescent bulb to a CFL bulb, that would be the equivalent of taking 800,000 cars off the road. At $4 each, they offer three to four times the energy savings of an incandescent. They are readily available nowadays, and aesthetically are able to mimic the lighting effects of the old ones. The cons: They contain trace amounts of mercury (which collectively adds up), and some complain that their warm-up period to reach full brightness is too long (instant gratification, anyone?).

Light emitting diodes (LED)
These bulbs are pricier at $30-40 each, but imagine never having to change a light bulb again. They offer 10 times the energy savings and create less heat (they’re even cool to the touch), which results in lower home cooling costs. There is no mercury in the manufacturing or the bulb itself. The cons are the upfront cost and the fact that they’re not as readily available; both should continue to improve.

Don’t forget motion sensors as a smart alternative to leaving lights on for long periods of time, and solar lighting if you enjoy outdoor lighting accents.
Energy efficiency is the key, so just remember to “turn on the darkness” when you leave the room.

Best,
BWB

BRAG Campaign kicks off with a splash (of coffee in a reusable mug, of course!)

2010-11-08T06:44:00.000-08:00

Friday morning the BRAG team was out and about catching acts of greenness throughout Charlottesville. We had a blast!

*We started off in from of the Darden School of Business at their bike rack (we counted 8 bikes) but we must of missed the bike owners, unfortunately (I was there at 7:55am!) But we'll be back and at other local bike racks this month.

*We caught Charlotte getting off the UVA bus transport - way to use PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!

*We caught Gary in his slick suit and tie and REUSABLE MUG ready for big important meetings. We tried to talk him into changing into the high fashion Betty T, but he passed.

*We caught Marianne with her REUSABLE MUG at local java spot, Greenberries.

*We caught a sweet older gentleman, Sam, who thought we were UVA students with his REUSABLE MUG. His buddy ratted him out, saying that was "the only thing Sam does do for the Earth!" That's O.K. We trust in the Betty-Earth karma he helped generate!

*We caught a Western Albemarle High School student heading into school with her ZERO-WASTE LUNCH BOX - (stainless steel snappy containers)!

*And Betty Lou (aka my mom) got caught with this email announcing we are going forward with a 100-mile Thanksgiving Meal with her purchase of a local turkey! From North Carolina:

Went in to a new store today called “The Meat House” which has been open for a little over a year. Almost everything fresh in the store is grown locally.

A friend suggested ordering the turkey from them which I’ve done. The turkey is from North Carolina and dressing which is made locally as well. I think we can pull off this 100 mile Thanksgiving. Can’t believe I haven’t been to this store before.

You’ve got to see this store. I will be a regular customer, for sure. Mom

Betty's tips for furnishing

2010-10-07T05:16:00.000-07:00

Enjoy this article in your local Abode magazine, online, or here:

As you read this, you are probably sitting on something comfortable but substantially less “green” than Mother Nature’s floor (the dirt) or a Caveman’s favorite chair (a rock). We spend hours upon hours sitting or laying down on objects that are made of a combination of wood, glues, finishes, foam, and metal springs fashioned from materials from around the globe. Betty offers the following tips for green furnishings.

*Choose furniture with the least-toxic finishes and glues. Avoid formaldehyde and other flame retardants which off-gas, compromising your indoor air quality.

*Buy FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood, or products shaped from reclaimed materials. I spied a beautiful bench crafted by John Shumate, a Barboursville artisan, at Artful Lodger.

*Ask lots of questions about the product material and manufacturing process. Beware of greenwashing. Betty advocates going local, but you may have to purchase online.

*Think durability. Natural fibers are great, but can wear and tear and stain more easily.

*If you have budget limitations, consider going green with just one aspect of the product. Or get creative by upcycling a yard-sale find, or buy vintage so that the off-gassing is done. Also consider refurbishing or reupholstering with natural fibers like hemp.

*Look for the Greenguard certification or Cradle-to-Cradle certification (from local eco-firm MBDC) where the complete life-cycle of the product is considered.
Finally, when you are done with that old couch, be sure to visit Betty’s hard-to-recycle online search tool (web address below), or call a local charity.

Hope that helps!
BWB

Sleep easier and greener...

2010-09-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

Green living tips from Better World Betty
Sleep smarter

Given that we spend approximately one-third of our lifetimes sleeping, it’s important to consider exactly what you’re sleeping on. This month Betty helps you green your sleeping quarters, knowing you will rest a lot better after taking care of the planetary as well as the personal needs.

Historically, mattresses have been a major offense to the eco-world, with added toxins like formaldehyde, various flame-retardant chemicals, and petroleum-based polyurethane foam contained in most conventional mattresses. A mattress is an important purchase in the big scheme of things (even eco-varieties contain various natural products from all over), so it’s important to make a choice that helps you sleep at night!

Locally owned Artful Lodger sells various green lines of mattresses as well as an all-organic mattresses. Natura brand’s “Tranquil,” made in North Carolina from latex rubber trees, bamboo, cotton, and bio-soy foam (prices start at $1,300), is popular.

A local company, The Savvy Sleeper, sells its own line of Savvy Rest natural mattresses using natural latex and organic wool. No off-gassing chemicals, no pesticide residues, and no flame retardants, thank you. If the cost is holding you back, inquire about green lines from the big names.

As for pillows, organic cotton, wool or latex varieties work well. Sheets are now widely available in organic cotton or bamboo—but keep in mind most bamboo products will be coming from China, which increases the embedded energy of the product.
Last, but not least, grace your nightstand with a copy of Conscious Style Home by Danny Seo.

Voila: a brighter, green bedroom!
In-joy,
Better World Betty

Dead tree home tour: August's Abode Column

2010-08-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

This month Betty takes a home walk-through to find any dead tree, replacing it with some tree-friendly alternatives.

Entering the home, we are likely standing on hardwood or surrounded by wood columns (i.e. 4x4s) that were once trees growing outside amongst the elements, but now wear a coat of drywall, insulation, and paint to protect us from the weather. Done deal.

The first thing we find in the entryway: junk mail. Put a stop to this dead tree by going to Betty’s easy links for eliminating junk mail at www.betterworldbetty.org. Share your magazines and recycle newspapers.

What do we find in the kitchen? No paper bags because you use reusable bags. Paper towels are unnecessary, but if you insist on having them on hand, the brown recycled variety will do. Cereal boxes and other food containers made of mixed brown paper (once trees) make great flash cards, art project materials, and can be recycled.

Stepping into the living room, we find a coffee table, dining set, and guitar—all former trees. Make your next furniture purchase FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or reclaimed wood, or second-hand.

Next room: the office. Remember to purchase 100 percent post-consumer FSC-certified bleach-free paper, have a recycle box readily accessible (paper still tops the list as the number one recyclable throwaway), and go paperless when possible.

We finish the tour with a bathroom break, finding Green Forest or Seventh Generation toilet and tissue paper using 90-100 percent recycled content and a chlorine-free manufacturing process.

Phew!

BWB

p.s. photo from one of my favorite books: The Remarkable Trees of Virginia, photo by local Bob Llewellyn

Betty's BUY LOCAL reading list

2010-07-12T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hmmm. It's a rainy summer day... too wet play outside, too boring to stay at home inside, yawn... yawn, there's NOTHING to do (isn't this the beginning of one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books?). Betty has a solution for you... Take a walk/bike/ride to the WEST side and go to the newest indie bookstore in town: Over the Moon Bookstore & Gallery in Crozet! Just two doors down from Crozet pizza, this is an all-out indie effort that is community-minded, e-conscious (check out their reclaimed wood book tables) and cozy. (I promise to take pictures next time!)

Break the big box book chains (which shall remain nameless) and be a LOCAL book buyer: pick up one of the essential summer reading musts.

The Better World Handbook; Plenty; Growing Local Value; Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; and Deep Economy are just some of the books about making and keeping local economies vibrant. Find the full list at here: http://www.bookweb.org/files/open/pdf/shoplocal/200909local_first.pdf

WHY is this important? You might ask. From the www.indiebound.org website, here's why...

"The Economy
Spend $100 at a local and $68 of that stays in your community. Spend the same $100 at a national chain, and your community only sees $43.
Local businesses create higher-paying jobs for our neighbors.
More of your taxes are reinvested in your community--where they belong.

The Environment
Buying local means less packaging, less transportation, and a smaller carbon footprint.
Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less maintenance, and more money to beautify your community.

The Community
Local retailers are your friends and neighbors—support them and they’ll support you.
Local businesses donate to charities at more than twice the rate of national chains.
More independents means more choice, more diversity, and a truly unique community.

Now is the time to stand up and join your fellow individuals in the IndieBound mission supporting local businesses and celebrating independents.

IndieBound supports Independent Business Alliances around the country. To find an alliance near you, visit AMIBA or BALLE."

Bookstore hours are 10 to 7pm Monday through Saturday, Sunday noon to 5pm. Call 823-1144 for more details!

In-joy,
BWB

Betty believes in MAKEOVERS!

2010-07-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE CVILLE HOME ENERGY MAKEOVER AND TELL THEM BETTY SENT YOU!

Today was the opening announcement of Charlottesville's Home Energy Makeover Contest today at City Space and Betty was there among industry leaders, politicians, environmental activists, several Betty board members, and press to hear about the program. Energy is a 'hot' topic these days, so let Betty tell you how to 'cool' your energy costs and possibly win a makeover!

*Is your cooling system running when it doesn't need to be?
*Are there cracks in your doors and windows that are letting the cold/warm air escape thereby increasing your home heating/cooling costs?
*Are you running humidifiers or fans 24/7?
*How tight is the flue on your chimney?

These are among the important questions to be answered when looking at home energy use. LEAP and the home energy contest aims to raise awareness among Cville about the comfort and value of reducing energy use and cost in your home! So enter so that you have a shot at winning a FREE energy assessment (audit) and MAKEOVER.

If you haven't heard by now, LEAP is a community-based non-profit formed by a joint initiative between the City and the County of Albemarle and they recently garnered 1 million dollars in funds to increase energy efficiency right here, beginning with you!! The cool thing about this is the huge amount of money LEAP wants to give right back to the community, to YOU for making positive changes to your home! Whether your home need a lot of help or some help or A LOT of help, please sign up. It's EASY. Just fill out the EASY form online at www.cvillesaves.org

The other cool thing about this is that BETTY has a chance to get funds for her programs!! All you have to do on the application is enter the non-profit, BETTER WORLD BETTY. More details:

*Entrants will be selected to receive a free professional home performance assessment and energy makeover worth up to $10,000.

*Typical retrofit measures include: air sealig, duct sealing,adding insulation, tuning or upgrading heating and cooling equipment. Their goal is a 20% or better efficiency gain for these homes.

*Eight runners up will receive free home performance assessments (a $400 value) conducted by certified local contractors.

*Entrants must be City of Charlottesville or Albemarle County residential property owners.

*Registration is open now through August 20 (postmarked or email by midnight)

So take FIVE MINUTES and apply and be sure to put BETTER WORLD BETTY as your favorite non-profit because they will be awarding $1,000 to the organization that brings the most applicants!

THANKS everyone!
BWB

Betty floors everyone!!

2010-07-06T19:18:00.000-07:00

For the floor

Most builders, architects, designers and homeowners now incorporate sustainable flooring into their home projects, whether it’s for LEED or EarthCraft certification, or simply at the homeowner’s request. Sustainability considerations include use, durability, and aesthetics and your budget. Fortunately, we have many great local options to choose from, living in the heart of Appalachia.

Wood:
Reclaimed wood is a prime choice. Mountain Lumber Company (founded locally by Willie Drake) carries reclaimed flooring. As for new lumber, the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) label assures conservation of natural resources and fair work conditions. Sustainable Woods only harvests diseased trees from Virginia’s FSC forests (we actually have two FSC-certified forests here), uses animals to pull the trees out, and uses a solar-fired kiln to dry the wood. Other FSC-certified wood floors are an option, but could be coming from Northwest Canada or South America.

Carpets:
Many carpets are now made using recycled products—plastic bottles or cork—or renewables like bamboo. Carpet Plus is the local frontrunner. I recommend asking lots of questions about the materials’ origin and the manufacturing process.

Other options:
Ceramic tile is a durable option, and local manufacturing lessens the embedded energy cost of the product. Linoleum and marmoleum are biodegradable (check for the GreenGuard certification). Concrete floors are hip and definitely long-lasting. They retain cold and heat, which can save on home energy costs. Questions remain about possible pollution in the production process, however.

An expert’s opinion: Charles Hendricks, architect with The Gaines Group and chairman of the Shenandoah Valley Home Builders Green Building Committee, suggests “a sustainably harvested wood floor from Southwest Virginia, with a fallback of a locally harvested wood floor from the Shenandoah Valley.”

I do so like GREEN floors and hope you do too!
BWB

A friend of Betty has something to say!

2010-06-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

It's late. I'm checking email and I'm really not "reading" any of them in my current state. But I see one entitled "Climate Change Legislation" and which perks my Betty radar. I need to read this one, I think, and I'm delighted that it's 1) brief (hey, I'm being totally honest here) and 2) it's impassioned and true and 3) it's from one of my favorite local community activists - Glenn Short.

I served on the Unitarian Universalists Green Committee one year with Glenn and he is just an amazing force. Silver-haired, a proud and slightly hunched 5'8" (and last year had a fall that forced him to walk with a cane, much to his dislike), he always greats me with a big smile, a big hug, and a passion for change that is so strong in him, you can see it in his quick step. I believe he's well over 70 --I don't know his exact age-- but he certainly doesn't act it, which is delightful. The first green meeting I attended I remember his little black book that was so ink-splotched with dates and times and numbers for community meetings, public hearings, state legislator phone numbers, that it looked as though a pen exploded on it!

By way of that explanation, I MUST share with you his impassioned plea...

"Climate scientists report the uppermost safe limit for CO2 in earth's atmosphere is 350 parts per million, while today we're at 392 parts. Melting glaciers worldwide, Greenland's & Artic ice meltdowns prove we're in the danger zone now. Yet fossil fuel energy producers call for-- Drill Baby Drill! The only way to stop this status-quo, castastrophe-bound trend is to put a legal carbon limit on all greenhose-gas-emitting industries and vehicles. Even billionaires living on this finite-resource planet breathe the same air, drink the same water as the rest of us. Please, for the sake of future generations, tell Senators Warner (202) 224-2023 & Webb (202) 224-4024 we need a Climate Change law NOW, while there's still time."

Glenn Short

Please support Glenn and steps toward turning the tide of Climate Change by being active and involved in legislation aimed at solutions! Betty thanks you for your passion for change.

Best,
BWB

Betty's summer reading list title #1: Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson

2010-06-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

Last week I had to take a staycation, welcome-to-summer roadie to Richmond to see the new addition of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and visit one of my favorite trees at Maymont AND a new discovery: indie bookstore in Shockoe Slip FOUNTAIN BOOKS. Ahhhh. It was a great half-day excursion, but the highlight just might have been sitting in that quaint little bookstore for an hour, perusing new titles, favorite authors, a stellar tree book I MUST acquire soon but DIDN'T write down the title, and Ralph Waldo Emerson's book NATURE. Between grant-writing, mothering, working, and going to school I'm not sure when I'll get to "summer reading" lists, but I've started. Emerson's writing are his life are passionate expressions of his love of the natural world. He was radical in urging Americans of his time to be in the joy of beauty and Nature by walking, noticing, breathing.

I share this quote with you:

"The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence. Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man extort her secret, and lose his curiosity by finding out all her perfection... the lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood. His intercourse with heaven and earth becomes part of his daily food."

from Ralph Waldo Emerson's (1803-1882) book Nature, Penguin Books (printed on FSC certified paper)

Best,
BWB

A More Perfect Patio this Summer....

2010-06-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

Deck yourself out with these summer ideas from Betty's June Column for Cville Weekly's Abode Magazine

There’s nothing better than a relaxing summer evening with friends on the patio enjoying great music and great food. This month, Betty reveals eco-friendly ways to make your deck the in place to party outside.

Invite nature-lovers—like butterflies and birds—to your patio party with strategically planted butterfly bushes and bee balm. Find drought-resistant plants grown locally at the farmer’s market or area nurseries. Recycled glass bird-feeders are decorative and eco-minded, or make your own using a cardboard milk carton covered with a collage of old magazines and newspapers.

Lighting sets the mood. I like to get creative with candles: Mason jars filled with soy candles surrounding the edge of your patio offer a natural glow. Solar-powered lights create enchanting illuminated pathways. Energy-efficient options would be outdoor LED or motion sensor lights.

Of course your guests need comfy places to sit, so how about upcycling a great yard sale find (an old wicker chair or paint-peeling patio set) into a patio treasure with a quick new spray low-VOC paint job? Or you could splurge on a pair of Adirondack chairs made of recycled milk jugs, available at the Blue Ridge Eco Shop in a variety of joyful colors ($275; see p. 10).
If you have a wooden deck, a soy-based, zero-VOC deck stain (Velvet CDF, for example) seals the wood for 10 years’ worth of outdoor fun.

Finally, to avoid pesky mosquitoes, spray your patio area with a natural and locally made insect repellent: St. Gabriel’s, which lasts four weeks. Scented citronella candles are another good solution.

Best,
BWB

Nature Play

2010-05-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

Enjoy Betty's article in Abode magazine or here:

May’s arrival could have parents contemplating the long summer days with kids. A close-to-home solution for getting them outside and experiencing nature is to create a sustainably-minded backyard play structure or treehouse.

If you have an existing structure (pre-2004), a green remodel is in order because your lumber is likely treated with arsenate CCA (chromated copper arsenate), which leaches carcinogenic toxins. You could seal it with a water-based sealant to keep the CCA trapped in the wood, or replace the old wood with EnviroSafe lumber found at Nature Neutral (975-2002).

If you’re starting from scratch and feeling adventurous, choose a D.I.Y. treehouse plan online or design your own. Keep it simple. Look for FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) wood treated with a nontoxic stain. If you scout local lumber yards, ask lots of questions. Better yet, call Harry Groot at Blue Ridge Forest Cooperative (540-392-8081) which services a wide area, including Charlottesville, and tell him Betty sent you.

Too busy to build? There are many online companies that sell 100 percent recycled plastic, PVC-free play structures. I found Earthscapes structures, Timber Form’s “RePlay,” and Big Toys (they tout U.S. Green Building Council approval and plant three trees per purchase) online—alas, no local dealers.

Stay away from recycled-tire surfaces for underneath play structures, because of possible off-gassing. Pesticide-free grass, pea gravel, natural wood chips, play sand (avoid sand with tremolalite, a type of asbestos), or good ol’ dirt work well.

In-joy,
BWB

Better World Betty's Earth Week Recap

2010-04-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

What an amazing week of celebrating the Earth. I was blessed to be a part of many Earth efforts around town where I was SERVING the Earth (last photo). One of Betty's fans commented: "Whoa - isn't Earth Day like Betty's "Christmas?"" It's true that it is a very special week. A time to CELEBRATE the efforts you are ALREADY doing to help the Earth or to RENEW efforts that you have been putting off because of your busy life or REDEDICATE time or energy or money to a new effort to help save our planet and its precious resources. Isn't this what every holiday is really about? Celebration, renewal, rededication.

My favorite part is connecting with the community members and other organizations and talking about more ideas for positive change. We are all on this bouncing ball together.

(PHOTOS: Me and the Bagel Lady at UVA's Eco-Market; Eric, Me, Sharon - community volunteers/change makers; Bruce Edmonds of the Rivanna Solid Waste and McIntire Recycling Center; Me serving the Earth)

BWB Highlights:

**Sunday: My very FIRST visit at Betty's Booth on Sunday's kickoff of Earth week at the Pavilion was a homeless man who wanted to start composting in his temporary housing. That was inspiring! He also told me about receiving a water kit from the city and installing it to the amazement of the other tenants.

EVERYONE, I mean everyone is making a difference out there.

**Sunday: Jen donating 15 dollars for one of my remaining BETTY T-shirts. (Still have a few left: email me...)

**Sunday: A listener of the Bruce and Betty radio show (it seems a tad hyperbole to call 12 minutes of radio a show) came to my booth and said, "So, are you Betty?" and I turned around to see if anyone besides me was standing there and oops no Betty. I looked at him rather sheepishly and said, "Betty is me." He looked so disappointed. No offense taken. I can totally relate. It's like reading Confederacy of Dunces and really wanting to sit down with Ignatius Reilly (OK, sorry Betty, not the most flattering of comparisons). But you get the idea. Betty is lovable and most times I wish she were real too. Now she is with me and all of us in spirit helping us take action - big and small ones everyday - to help the Earth.

**Tuesday: UVA Earth Week Garden Tour. I enjoyed listening to two landscape gardeners for the Pavilion Gardens at UVA at 1pm. They had some real wisdom as far as the impact he is seeing from global climate change. Even just a one percent shift in the Earth's temperature widens the distance insects are able to travel, thus creating a problem for investations of trees such as the hemlock in the area. One decried the folly of planting non-native plants year after year, only to watch them die, especially considering the drought-like conditions we've had in recent years. Boxwoods aren't native to the region, for example. They are a shallow rooted plant and therefore don't handle series of dry days where the moisture is deeper. Tradition at UVA is one thing, but "Good gardeners plant and watch, plant and watch." Continuing to plant non-native trees because of tradition is a waste of time and money, according to one landscaper, but so far it's an uphill battle getting anyone to listen. hmmmm. Talk louder?? (That's what Mother Nature is doing)

**A Betty faithful fan told me that on Spring Break she and her husband took "Betty walks" on the beach to pick up trash, sometimes asking "What would Betty do?" upon finding trash with mini bug inhabitants!

**Thursday, 40th Earth Day: UVA was loads of excitement as Bruce Edmonds and I did a remote broadcast in front of Newcomb Hall and then at the Amphitheater by the lawn - the Ecomarket with students, faculty and staff. LOVED Bruce's ECO-radio with a hand crank! The local bagel ladies were there as well as Retail Relay, Beer Run, Edible magazine, Habitat for Humanity, farmers, Feast! Earth lovers at large, let me tell you. THANKS to those of you who signed up to volunteer. Betty needs YOU!! Thanks for the interview Myles Henderson: http://www.newsplex.com/video?clipID=4725265&autoStart=true&contentID=91838494

**Friday 8:50am: Bruce and Betty show on 1061 the Corner on greening your lawn, Betty-style

The only regret: not hugging more TREES. Trees on Fire, that is, at their launch party this evening at Charlottesville's Paramount at 8pm. I cannot believe I am missing one of my favorite Organica Earth-loving bands tonight!

Thanks for another great Earth Day everyone,
BWB

p.s. Thanks Eric B and Howell B (volunteers), Bish Bailey at Bailey printing for doing some quick printing on recycled paper, and Pack N Mail on Pantops for cutting Betty a special on a way cool banner!

D.I.Y. green cleaners

2010-04-05T19:15:00.000-07:00

Check out this month's column in Abode magazine here or on their website!

Mix up your own green cleaners

Time to spring clean! This month Betty gives you simple recipes to save greenbacks, and our green planet. These phosphate- and petroleum-free, biodegradable cleaners outshine harmful and unnecessary specific cleaning products. All you really need is baking soda, mild detergent (Dr. Bonner’s), lemon, kosher salt and (optional) tea tree oil.

Basic all-purpose cleaner: 1 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 gallon of water (many spray bottles are this size) and a lemon’s squeeze for aroma and anti-bacterial benefits. Use this in bathrooms (on tub and tile) and all countertops and appliances. For tougher stains sprinkle baking soda and kosher salt and apply elbow grease.

Natural disinfectant: 2 cups water, 3 T liquid soap, 20-30 drops of tea tree oil.
Clogged drains: ½ cup baking soda followed by 2 cups boiling water (unless you have plastic pipes). Still clogged? Add ½ cup of vinegar and watch it fizz, set, then flush.

Bathroom mold: 1 part hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) with 2 parts water. Spray; wait an hour before rinsing.

Carpet spills: If club soda fails, pour corn meal or corn starch, wait 15 minutes, and vacuum.

Hardwood floors: Local hardwood expert Will Rainey says you really don’t need to use anything special on hardwoods, just warm water (optional: a splash of vinegar).

Windows: 2 T of white vinegar per gallon of water. Wipe with newspaper (no need for paper towels).

Stubborn clothing stains: After a red wine stain on new white linens, I discovered this trick: hydrogen peroxide. Let it pull the stain off, then wash.

Happy green cleaning!
BWB

TAP into the global solution to safe water this weekend

2010-03-19T04:22:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung, y'all and it's time to be outside! Perfect time to enjoy a fresh glass of water and support Unicef's Tap Project right here in Charlottesville as a part of World Water Week. At the following 16 Charlottesville restaurants, pay just $1 for the glass of tap water you usually get for free. The money funds UNICEF drinking water projects around the globe.

Ariana Kebob, Aromas, Bang!, Blue Moon Diner, Bluegrass Grill, The College Inn, Eppie's, Fleurie, Horse & Hound Gastropub, Hotcakes, Ivy Inn, Orzo, Petit Pois, X Lounge, Zinc, and Zocalo.

This weekend is the second anniversary of the TAP Project, a nationwide event to bring awareness and solutions to safe, clean drinking water needed around the globe.

You know, the stuff you brushed your teeth with this morning and didn't even think twice about. Now I'm not pointing fingers here - I did the same. But it's a fact that here in America we take for granted fresh, clean water. So let Betty splash a little cold water on your face this morning...

Water Facts and Stats:

*Water-borne disease is the second highest cause of childhood death in the world – killing more than 4,100 children every day.

*UNICEF’s goal is to reduce the number of people without safe water and basic sanitation by 2015. Since 2007, the Tap Project has provided clean drinking water for more than 1 million children.

*Nearly 900 million people lack access to clean water…that’s the population of New York City multiplied more than 45 times over. With $1, UNICEF can provide a child with access to clean, safe water for 40 days, or 40 children with access to safe water for 1 day.

*All money raised via the Tap Project has gone toward UNICEF’s water, sanitation, and hygiene programs. Since 1990, UNICEF has helped 1.6 billion people gain access to clean water and sanitation.

*UNICEF works in more than 100 countries around the world to improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and to promote safe hygiene practices.

*A staggering 40% of the world’s population – more than 2.5 billion people – lack basic sanitation facilities.

*About one out of five people in sub-Saharan Africa rely on a clean drinking water source that is more than 30 minutes away.

*So I talked to Gwen Goodkin about how she became involved in Unicef's Tap Project, the exciting 16 restaurant participating this year in Charlottesville, and the important and tres easy thing for you to do: DONATE the money you would have spent on a drink and GET TAP WATER INSTEAD.

*Gwen is excited about the great publicity this year. She’s had help from Channel 29 TV Channel 29 TV, Chuck Baer of Black Baer Sealcoat (Ivy and Crozet folks, have you seen the billboard on Ivy Road - you know the one I'm talking about), and the folks at Lighthouse Studios Lighthouse for putting together an AMAZING PSA, and UnicefUnicef. I LOVE this woman! She gets things done. "All you need is a computer and laser printer and things just happen!" Betty loves positive thinking like this. Her 13-yr-old son (pictured above) has been a huge part of this year's campaign and commenced calling area restaurants while on vacation in Chicago!.

So your part is easy- here's all you do:

1) Take your and your friends and family and your LOCAL GREENBACKS out to a participating restaurant (the first pat on your back - way to keep your green here in the 'ville)
2) Tell them Better World Betty sent you (second pat on the back for supporting a local non-profit - thanks)
3) Then instead of having tap water (you usually have for FREE) or drinks, donate THAT money to the Tap Project! (third pat on the back for personally investing and taking action to solve the world's fresh water drinking problem! You rock.)

The Tap Project continues through next Saturday, March 27th. So you have all week!

Loving water, loving you!
BWB

P.S. From their website:

"What is the UNICEF Tap Project?

In 2007, the UNICEF Tap Project was born in New York City based on a simple concept: restaurants would ask their patrons to donate $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free, and all funds raised would support UNICEF’s efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world.

Growing from just 300 New York City restaurants in 2007 to thousands across the country today, the UNICEF Tap Project has quickly become a powerful national movement.

During World Water Week, March 21-27, 2010, the UNICEF Tap Project will once again raise awareness of the world water crisis and vital funds to help the millions of children it impacts daily. All funds raised support UNICEF's water, sanitation and hygiene programs, and the effort to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world."

Painting with Betty...

2010-03-10T04:56:00.000-08:00

This article can be found here, at Abode newsstands around town, or on Cville Weekly's website:cville abode

I’ve stared at enough white this winter, including walls—it’s time for color! And green painting can be fun and economical.

Pick the right paint, the first time!
If I wasn’t picky about color and material, I could head to Ivy MUC (Materials Utilization Center) and check their PEP (paint exchange program) paints; but I want to ensure a low-VOC or zero-VOC brand (like Natura from Benjamin Moore) to protect indoor and outdoor air.

Easy-to-clean latex-based paint with satin or semi-gloss finish is vital for my boys and me (outdated oil-based are higher polluting). Request Green Seal certification to limit and prohibit some toxins. My post-1978 home is lead-free, but be safe and visit www.epa.gov/lead for your project. I get 2-4 oz. samples and paint a 12x16 square behind a door: Colors can appear darker inside.

Stick to the basics
After rummaging my garage, I need one high-quality brush, an angled brush, a roller, painters’ tape, and a re-usable aluminum tray. I’ll borrow a step ladder and protect floors and furniture with old sheets or newspaper. Calling—instead of driving—around for prices and selection, I head to Nature Neutral, prep my walls with castile soap and water rinse (or a primer base) and I’m set! A paint calculator on the web tells me exactly how much I need.

Leftovers
If you have less than 1/4 can, let it dry outside. More? Use kitty litter or sawdust to soak up excess, and then dispose as trash. More than a gallon? Call local schools, Discovery Museum, other kid-centered places, or head to the Ivy MUC. (Notice the stunning red at Discovery Museum the next time you're there. That's my friend Kate's "Old World" - hysterical story behind that. When ordering her paint, she accidentally left off the "Romance" in "Old World Romance" and instead of a buttery, creamy color, she came home to vibrant cherry red!!) Reselling on craigslist is another option.

Happy painting!
BWB

Congratulations Cville Foodscapes

2010-03-09T19:06:00.000-08:00

I was delighted to attend Sunday's launch at Random Row Books of a great new local business in town: Cville Foodscapes!

Built on the idea that there is too much lawn, not enough fresh garden food, six passionate individuals came together to help residents design, install and maintain home veggie gardens. Inspired by a love of gardening and a desire to see more food, not lawns (I love that book!), Wendy, Angel, Cassia, Sky, Sam, and Patrick have spent the past year creating a worker-owned cooperative business that helps Cville with their foodscaping! Besides offering a range of great services around gardening, they also will help you with your water harvesting and composting.

Wendy and I talked at length about the winding business path that lead them to this exciting day. And to our meeting - her friend Betsy has been raving about BWB and Betty's website and her husband actually attended January's Green Drinks and helped celebrate Betty's birthday! So we finally meet. Yeah! And what a light Wendy is! Well-spoken and enthusiastic about spreading their business. I was also happy to be reunited with smiley and completely huggable Angel Shockley. She and I communed in the dirt together while I was doing a work share at Roundabout Farm a couple years ago -- she was part of their on-site farm crew. I also met Patrick, who has an ultracool handout on how to make a flowerpot holder for your bike. I made one onsite (pictured here). Ruby (my bike) is so excited to have her very own marigold (from the seed exchange) blooming this spring if my thumb is as green as I want it to be!!

In talking with them both, I was impressed that they are not only creating a great business - helping people who don't know how or don't have the time or for other reasons just haven't taken the leap to having a home garden - but also the cooperative business model is forward-thinking and innovative enough to hopefully inspire other businesses to grow. They also have an already built in way to give back to the community and serve people who may not be able to afford their services: a "garden grant" program with QCC as their sponsor. A portion of their monthly revenue will go to support garden grants, which helps low-income families take advantage of fresh local food as well. Love it!

So if you've been thinking about taking the plunge into gardening, but are not quite sure how to start or what it entails, call the folks at Cville Foodscapes for a free consultation (their info should be in Betty's directory under Landscaping and Food shortly) (434) 806-6255 or email info@cvillefoodscapes.com or go to their website: www.cvillefoodscapes.com

Here's too edible lawns everywhere!
BWB

The Bruce and Betty show on 1061 w/ Paige Mattson: Gardening

2010-02-26T04:42:00.000-08:00

This spring is going to be in full bloom before you know it! (Thank the heavens, right?!) I know I am feeling like one of those tightly closed buds just waiting for enough warm days and sunshine to bloom brighter than ever. So it's time to PLAN, then PLANT, then GROW your garden.

1- Preparing the soil:

I love to use the compost from my bin (though this year I moved into a smaller place with no room for an outside bin. Therefore, I'm not going to have as much need of compost because my gardening needs will be confined to pots and containers this year. I may just do smaller batches using a bin that can fit on the countertop or under the sink nicely). Composting can be done in a bin or if you have a big enough yard can be as simple as a pile covered with kitchen wire. The other essential ingredient is Panorama Pay Dirt from Steve Murray's booming business out in the county. Last year I found it at Southern States.

2- Seed selection:

Paige tells us it's time to start NOW if you plan on using seedlings. I need to confess that I may be better world Betty, but my thumb could stand getting greener for sure!! Two years running I've tried to start my seeds indoors with an embarassingly dismal success rate of about one plant out of every 30 seeds I plant. YIKES. I have had more success with starting herbs from seeds indoors - so I'll try that this year. I love Southern Seed Exchange - available at I.Y. (Integral Yoga) and I've even seen those at Whole Foods from time to time, who is carrying more and more local produce and other items.

3- Planting and Growing:

I recommend a LASAGNA GARDEN (pictured above). This is an ultra-cool way to garden and it's SO easy. First layer is newspaper (or thin cardboard, though I've never tried it so can't vouch for it) laid directly on top of the grass (or even weeds), then wet it down a bit. This is a 'brown' layer and now you want a 'green' layer: compost, coffee grounds, tea leaves/bags, fruit and veggie scraps, grass clippings, pay dirt. And then add another layer of newspaper or junk mail clippings or dry leaves and then another layer of 'green.' Top it off with pay dirt, plant your seedlings (after the threat of frost is over - around Mother's Day) and surround with some mulch.

The great advantage to lasagna garden is that you have:

- fewer weeds
- better water retention ( so it really cuts down on the water use)
- no back-wrenching digging (especially is this famous red clay of Virginia)

Now even if you don't have room for a big garden, you can opt for a patio garden using pots and large containers for herbs and tomatoes - consider a salsa garden. A pot of tomato, a pot of your favorite spicy hot pepper, and green pepper, and cilantro (I have to again confess that my cilantro has always gone to seed before I get a decent crop).

A word about deer and other varmints: the trick we have used is saving my boys' hair cut clippings and we hung it in bags around the garden (as well as urging them to pee around it -- Hey! I have two boys under the age of 10, what do you expect?)

Need more help? The barefoot gardener is part of a fundraising event at the Haven on Sunday, Feb 28th at 4pm (first and market) - he'll help you get started. Seeds, t-shirts, good people will abound.

Side note on mulch: the Ivy Muc facility has MULCH, aka organic vegetative material that is decent and economical (and not treated with nasty dyes and chemicals like some of the commercial brands) and for a fee you can have it delivered. I say decent because it's not thick - not the perty, fine chopped, dark kind. It's good for large areas.

Happy Gardening, from Betty and Bruce and Paige!

It goes without saying...

2010-02-24T15:16:00.001-08:00

It goes without saying that a Better World, in my vision, includes the 55 million school-age young people in America. I've spoken about the numerous environmental steps that the city and county have implemented in recent years here in Charlottesville. From large-scale recycling and energy-savings to integrated pest management programs, they have been taking steps toward a healthier planet, beginning with the inside and outside of our schools. As important as these programs are, I believe they are at risk and to be perfectly honest are probably considered ancillary compared to what the schools are facing right now.

So tonight I am going to take a broader, big-picture approach to green: the sustainability of our future as a nation by urging you to take action and raise your voice to support properly funding our schools.

One of the most important collective endeavors we do as Americans is provide for an equal, dare I say excellent, education for all young people.

As a mother of two school-age boys, I am very concerned about the future quality of our schools here given the budget cuts (I read tier one, two and three last night here) that are looming large right now in Albemarle County. I won't go into excruciating detail, but as a middle school teacher I was stunned to see one of the proposed cuts was the elimination of a middle school vice-principal position (You all remember middle school, don't you?? Enough said)

I urge those of you with TEN extra minutes to sit down RIGHT NOW and write the board of supervisors and then write/email Delegate Rob Bell who is on the appropriations committee at the state level. My friend Brian Wheeler takes an in-depth look at the cuts, the ramifications, etc on his blog: School Matters http://schoolmatters.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/budget_situation.html. (Brian, how do you do it all? You are amazing!)

As an involved mother with a background as an educator, I've seen the system from both sides and I don't envy the board and the state this difficult task of trying to make the budget work in these tough times, but we as a people, as a region, as a society need to remember the value of our future citizens and leaders of our nation: the young people.

I quote Hubert Humphrey when I say,"...the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children."

Please don't let our children down, our future, our hope.

Below is a list of ideas and talking points from a concerned PTO member:

The Board of Supervisors will meet on Wednesday, March 3, for a public hearing on the county budget, including the budget presented by the School Board. The SB voted to present a needs-based, rather than a balanced budget; the gap between what is needed (after significant cuts effect every building and program in the system). If we want the BOS to fund our schools, they need to hear from us, starting now. Many, many groups have already begun making their appeals to the BOS. As we saw from the redistricting issue, the people talking get heard, if enough of them speak to the same point.

You do not need to write anything long--a short and to the point message can be plenty persuasive, especially when a lot of them are received. "I am a taxpayer and voter in (fill in name of District here) and I believe our public schools are our community's most valuable asset. Do what it takes to fully fund the School Board's budget request."

Below is information gleaned from several web sites (which are noted below). The info can be used when you write, or when you talk to friends. If each of us encourages three or four people to write, we can make a difference. I suggest that you write a message to your supervisor, then send the same message to the rest of the BOS, so that all members have a sense of the strong feelings in the community for this.

the basic situation:

1) state revenue pays for almost half the cost of local education BUT:
state revenues, which are mostly income and sales taxes, have sharply fallen because so many people are out of work (thus less income to tax) and the rest are being cautious and cutting back on spending (thus lower sales tax revenue).

2) local revenues pay for almost half of the cost of local education BUT:
local revenues, which are mostly property taxes and sales taxes are also falling. sales taxes are falling as noted above.

3) property tax revenues MAY fall:
but property tax revenue does not have to fall: property tax revenue is a tax on the assessed value of the house. so as housing prices fall, the same tax RATE yields lower revenue. falling prices will shave $4million off county revenue if the rate is unchanged.

WHAT CAN BE DONE
1) The only thing the county controls in this situation is the local property tax RATE.

2) what's the math on property taxes:

the current rate is 0.742% (less than 1 % of assessed value, and well below the rate of 0.96% prevailing inthe 1990s)

if the county does nothing, and leaves the rate alone, revenue will keep falling and the school system will be implementing what they call "tier 2 and 3 reductions," which means eliminating entire programs.

if the county simply raises the rate to about 0.766%, property taxes stay the same for any given homeowner. this would close half the LOCAL $4 million budget gap, by retaining $2million in revenue for the county.
=> this is called an "equalized tax rate"

the county could also raise rates to roughly 0.786% and close the entire LOCAL gap.

3) what about the drop in STATE revenue, though?

In the best case state funding scenario, a property tax rate of 0.819% would balance the budget and increase ANNUAL tax payments by $146.19 for the median priced home (about $276,000) as compared to 2009. (you can multiply 0.053 * your NEW assessment to see what this means for you)

With the worst case state funding scenario (new reductions of $9 million), a property tax rate of 86.5 cents would fund the budget with only Tier 1 cuts implemented. That rate would increase ANNUAL tax payments by $272.08 for the median priced home as compared to 2009. (you can multiply 0.0985 * your NEW assessment to see what this means for you)

Can we afford to pay for our own schools? YES
Albemarle county is one of the richest counties in VA, but also one of the least taxed.
** Albemarle County in 2006-07 ranked 16th out of 134 localities in "revenue capacity" - how large is the property tax base - with 134th being lowest capacity
** Albemarle County in 2006-07 ranked 96th out of 134 localities in "revenue effort" - how much is that property tax base actually used - with 134th being lowest effort
** which is why Albemarle County in 2006-07 ranked 123rd out of 134 localities in level of "fiscal stress" - with 134th being lowest stress. this is not a high tax location relative to its amenities, quality schools, etc. and the fact is that good schools help keep property values high by making albemarle an atttractive place to live. most places with low property values have low property values because no one wants to live there.

Who to write to:
All of them in one easy address: bos@albemarle.org
Ann Mallek, White Hall : amallek@albemarle.org
Dennis Rooker, Jack Jouett: drooker@albemarle.org
Rodney Thomas, Rio: rthomas@albemarle.org
Ken Boyd, Rivanna: kboyd@albemarle.org
Duane Snow, Samuel Miller: dsnow@albemarle.org
Lindsay Dorrier, Scottsville: ldorrier@albemarle.org

Where the information in this email comes from:

Brian Wheeler’s post on what it would take to fund schools, with spreadsheet so you can run your own assessment through:
http://schoolmatters.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/budget_situation.html

Jim Duncan’s post on the correlation of property values and quality of schools:
http://www.realcrozetva.com/2010/02/15/crozet-housing-prices-and-school-quality/

Report on the Comparative Revenue Capacity, Revenue Effort, and Fiscal Stress of Virginia's Counties and Cities 2006/2007 (most recent year available)

Write a letter to bos@albemarle.org to reach all of the county board of supervisors.

Then forward it to Delegate Rob Bell:
General Assembly Building P.O. Box 406
Room 812
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Phone: (804) 698-1058
Fax: (804) 698-6758
Constituent Viewpoint: (800)-889-0229
Email: DelegateRobBell@embarqmail.com

Albemarle Square
Mailing Address: 2309 Finch Court
Charlottesville, VA 22911
Phone: (434) 245-8900
Fax: (434)245-8903
Email: DelegateRobBell@embarqmail.com

Here's to a better-funded budget!

Home and Eco-Hearth

2010-02-02T05:58:00.000-08:00

TIPS FROM BETTER WORLD BETTY
Home fires burning

February's Abode Column - read it here or there

Warning: Betty is about to put a serious damper on your cozy fireplace scene (pun intended).

Most fireplaces and woodstoves are energy losers, sending heated air (and money) right out the chimney—not to mention air-polluting carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), PMs (particulate matter), and other toxic emissions.

You can, however, reduce wood smoke pollution and get more heat for your fuel dollar. Consider using fire heat by installing a heat air exchange system and tempered fireplace glass doors. A gas or electric fireplace or fireplace insert can save money on heating. Check out EPA-certified ultra-efficient wood appliances. Not using your fireplace? Seal the damper permanently or purchase a fireplace draft stopper (95-98 percent sealed).

Can’t break the habit?

Keep the damper tightly closed when not in use. Caulk around the hearth and anywhere air could escape. Creosote buildup reduces efficiency and increases the threat of chimney fire, so hire a local chimney sweep for yearly cleaning. Darker smoke means more pollutants, so check your smoke plume from the outside regularly.
Always use seasoned firewood (dried for 6-12 months) from sustainably harvested forests (FSC label) or locally felled wood (check Munson’s at Whole Foods). Tree-free options are Dura-flame or Enviro-logs made from recycled cardboard. The absolute cleanest burning fuel alternative (virtually no particulate emissions) is pellet fuel made from sawmill waste. It’s easy to store and lightweight for transport. Check manufacturer’s instructions for compatibility.

Important Community Clean Energy Meeting!

2010-01-18T18:16:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned on the Bruce and Betty show on Friday - 60% of our energy here in Virginia is generated by dirty coal burning power plants. Our political leaders are feeling the HEAT from big coal and oil companies and therefore need OUR help!

Do you care about clean air? Do you care about becoming energy independent? Do you care about our planet?

You can do something tomorrow night... Attend this important COMMUNITY MEETING at CCDC's City Space on the Downtown Mall from 7-8pm (TUESDAY, JAN 19th)

According to the Sierra Club's field organizer, Ryan Doyle, whom I met on Thurs evening at Betty's two-year anniversary, America is still sending 1.2 BILLION dollars overseas for foreign oil, not to mention the impact on our environment and the threat on our climate.

We DO have solutions and Ryan along with Sierra Club members are excited to share and make a difference by passing KEY legislation which would bring Virginia CLEAN ENERGY JOBS - bringing economic prosperity, protect national security, and cut pollution at the same time.

Take action, attend tomorrow night. Steps to a better world, y'all!
BWB

Betty says, you are so NOT terrible!

2010-01-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

The other day I went to pick up some necessities at the local grocer and as I got out my reusable bags and placed them on the counter, the woman in front of me got a sad look, sighed and said to her husband, "I'm so terrible! I'm always forgetting my bags! I feel so guilty!"

I wanted to scream out loud You are so NOT terrible. You are lovely and wonderful and human. And for Earth's sake, stop feeling guilty and use that as fuel for change! Clearly this person CARES or she wouldn't have had such a strong reaction.

Is feeling guilty really going to help her remember her bags next time?

Now, I'm no social scientist, but likely if she that's the reaction she feels when she sees others doing a green action, no wonder she is not remembering her reusable bags!

Here's the truth y'all. Forget your bags? Left the light on again? Forgot to turn the thermostat down before you left on vacation? Let it go in the moment AND then put something in place to help you make the right decision. I.E. Take action. Give yourself a pat on the back for caring and renew your effort at change.

Research says it takes less than 90 days to formulate a habit. I was just reading up on it, because I have some habits of my own I desperately need to curb (uh-humm the hot shower buzzer goes off and I'm still lingering in the steam with this FREEZING weather we've been having). Try ...

*use 100% recycled paper post-it notes
*tell people your intention/goal - you are more likely to do it
*consistency builds habit Always hang your bags on the exit door or put them in the passenger seat of your car.
*feel the internal reward when you DO remember
*buy a LOCAL, farm-fresh yummy treat as an external reward when you DO remember

Hope that helps!
BWB

Betty's help in the kitchen, saving energy

2010-01-11T05:10:00.000-08:00

This article appears in this month's issue of Abode magazine. Read it here or on their website: www.c-ville.com
Let’s take a tour of your kitchen, where refrigeration and appliances use 17% of home energy, and see if Betty can create an energy saving recipe for the New Year!

Your biggest energy loser in the kitchen is the refrigerator.

*Does your fridge door hold a dollar bill in place? If not, seal those gaskets

*Up the temperature to 37 or 38 degrees and the freezer temp as high as 5 degrees (don’t have a read out - stick a glass of water in the middle of the fridge w/an appliance thermometer and read it after 24 hours)

*If possible avoid putting the fridge in a warm spot

*Regularly defrost your freezer

*Let hot foods cool and keep your freezer full

*Finally, keep dust bunnies on the coils in the back at a minimum

Cooking

*Reduce your cooking time by microwaving and skipping pre-heating

*Match your pot size with your heating element

*Defrost frozen foods before cooking

*Avoid peeking in the oven

*Toaster ovens use a third less energy than regular-sized ovens

Dishwashing
I for one cringe when a well-intentioned friend offers to wash the dishes and proceeds to chat while the hot water is running full blast. More studies are proving modern dishwashers outperform even frugal dishwashers (are you reading this, mom?) Also, scrape, don’t rinse, and wash only full loads. Take advantage of the energy settings and if you haven’t already, turn down your water heater to 120.

Finally, keep the kitchen faucet lever in the cool position – when it’s turned to the hot position it uses energy even when it’s not running. Remember to unplug all surface appliances when they’re not in use so they don’t waste energy.

Happy Savings!
Better World Betty
Green living made easier in the Charlottesville Area
website: www.betterworldbetty.org
blog: www.cvillebettyblog.blogspot.com

What to do when you're snowed in? Make a plan for ENERGY EFFICIENCY

2009-12-20T04:48:00.000-08:00

Researching my next article for Cville Weekly's Abode I came across a FABULOUS and TOTALLY user-friendly 36 page booklet

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/pdfs/energy_savers.pdf

from DOE's , Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department. OK so maybe you are in front of the fireplace, snuggled up reading the latest copy of DWELL magazine or the latest Barbara Kingsolver. Betty's telling you this is worth a glance, if not a good read. As I tuned into the coverage from Copenhagen, I was reminded of just how urgent climate change is. It's overwhelming, but it begins with the one step you are doing right now.

So how's this: read the booklet and right down 1 thing you can do RIGHT NOW to save energy. Then right down three things you can do in the NEXT MONTH. Then formulate a plan for the year 2010 and post it on your big home energy loser appliance (your fridge) - it'll make him feel better (he knows man's gotta eat) and you too for TAKING AN ACTION.

I'm pleasantly surprised by just how quick, informative and easy-to-implement some of the tips are.

The chart telling you what home plug ins use the most energy is worth a peruse. And news to me: if your kitchen faucet lever is turned toward hot, it's costing you money!! Turn it to COOL.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/pdfs/energy_savers.pdf

Snuggled-in,
BWB

Building a Better World starting right here!

2009-12-13T15:42:00.000-08:00

Exciting things were happening all over Charlottesville this weekend. It was hard to choose where to be and when and of course try to fit some holiday shopping in there somewhere, even for the Bettiest of Charlottesvillians. Saturday I found myself connecting with two wonderful segments of our green community here: local craftspeople and designers at CRAFTACULAR AND sustainable minded builders, architects, planners, political leaders at the 4th EcoMOD home on Elliot Avenue!

Cary and Kristen and Patty and Kim and other local artists and designers and craftspeople and "upcyclers" (I love this term!) were at Craftacular in the new Open Space at the corner of Monticello Ave and 2nd Street near ACAC). Of course I had to get over my initial "grrrr" feeling at the building for those of you who remember the majestic trees that were on that corner which had to be cut down. But the space is a very beautiful gathering place and cool community concept of rentable space for working and meetings of all types and the building's concierge informed me that they are striving for an all paperless work environment. Excellent.

I met Lindsay Mears who makes beautiful booklets made from old books and (think back now) old floppy disks. I met Kim who creatively upcycles old things she finds in antique or consignment shops or friends' attics, giving them a second life as beautiful bags and artful objects. She likes to take things apart - voila Cary's earrings.

After chatting with the artists and Roger Voisinet, green solar real estate outdoor adventure guy, I headed to the dedication of EcoMOD. Community members from all walks - students, UVA officials, professors, activists, we all braved the cold temperatures to celebrate an important piece of the sustainability puzzle: innovative sustainable modular and affordable home design otherwise known as EcoMOD,which is getting not only community attention, but national and international attention as well!!

EcoMOD is a UVA interdisciplinary project joining UVA's Architecture school and School of Engineering and Applied Science professors and students along with affordable housing organizations like Piedmont Housing Alliance and Habitat for Humanity. This home was a Habitat for Humanity home (the Andesha's home) and required cooperation of MANY students groups, area businesses, and city leaders. The lofty goal of this fourth EcoMod home was a net zero carbon footprint. WOW. And they are going for a LEED platinum rating as well as fulfilling the Habitat Mission of a modest, affordable home. This is a pre-fab home with energy star features, solar roof, and other sustainable feature. To quote Habitat's Executive Director Dan Rosenweig, to be sustainable, designs have to be attainable. This innovative, inter-disciplinary, inter-community effort is now being looked at in other parts of the world and it started with the work of Paxton Marshall and John Quale here in Charlottesville. Green hats off!!

I toured the home, spoke with Betty board members Paxton Marshall and Ryan Jacoby, as well as Mayor Dave Norris about the successful partnership and also about the future plans for the house next door.

The home at the corner of Elliott and Ridge (across from Tonsler park), once a drug hub, has been condemned for years, but through joint support of many organizations in our community, it looks like it's going to be transformed into a state of the green-art educational, living example of sustainable design and energy efficiency! Plans are currently being tossed about (I'm privileged to be a part of some of the dialogue via the Local Climate Action Planning Committee work I'm involved with), but if all funding goes well it should house LEAP, the Local Energy Alliance Program: a comprehensive program launching in Charlottesville to reduce our energy use.

Despite the bitter cold event (held outside the homes), I was inwardly glowing at all the good intention, Better World actions that continue to transform our community, our state and the planet, really. 'Tis the season, everyone!

Best,
BWB

Join the Green Party!

2009-12-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

Join the green party
An article from Betty's monthly column in Abode magazine!

One way to survive the cold, dark, post-Fridays-After-Five season is to host or attend a cozy, holiday party. But if December is already booked with invitations, your carbon snow-print might be mammoth.

Follow these tips for green merrymaking:

Choose invitations printed on recycled paper; or postcard-sized, bamboo or hemp invites; or simply welcome friends with digital e-vites.

If you must have a tree, splurge on a fresh, local Christmas tree from the nearest tree farm (consult the Buy Fresh Buy Local guide at buylocalvirginia.org).

Do you really need another seasonal decoration? Search your home for lost treasures, or ask close friends to loan decorations for the night of your party. Gather fresh rosemary or holly berry branches to garnish your soy, beeswax or palm wax candle.
Fill your favorite glass bowl or jar with cranberries and water and top with a tea light. Old CDs make glittery hanging ornaments; so do non-toxic gold and silver painted pinecones. Create recycled magazine Christmas trees by folding down every page. And garlands of leftover greenery, apples, cinnamon sticks and twine provide fragrance and fun.

Why not explore a local menu with Caromont chevre and a bottle of Gabriele Rausse’s Rosso? Be sure to serve guests on real or biodegradable plates. Here’s a gift idea for you and the planet: a set of sturdy, fashionable bamboo plates suitable for future parties!

And a beautiful handcrafted gift from local artists at the farmers’ market, or a gift certificate to your favorite locally owned business, captures the seasonal spirit of giving.

In-Joy,
BWB

Take the Bruce and Betty local Thanksgiving Challenge

2009-11-19T19:32:00.000-08:00

Every year 28 billion pounds of edible food goes to waste. Unbelieve, right? So this year, let's plan ahead, make less, and lower our collective impact by going local. Which means adding one or two dishes or localizing your entire T-day meal!! Then email your story to betty@betterworldbetty.org in 200 words or less and Brad of 1061 the Corner and Bruce of RSWA and Teri of Betty will pick the best one to air on the December 4th show (9am). We'll give you a free CD and reusable bag as well as 10seconds of Cville fame!!

1- Plan. Find out the per person amount of food to prepare. 1 lb of meat and 1/8 of a pumpkin pie beats guessing and overcooking!

2- TWEAK the main meal. Can you splurge on an organic turkey? Actually now there are all sorts of sophisticated designation according to what the turkey was fed and how it was treated (cage-free). Or like my friend Susan, serve FISH (check the Seafood Watch guide first, of course - they do all the pertinent research on which fish is friendly to take out of its home/water). You know, the pilgrims and natives likely served fish is what I read in a kids' picture book once!

3- Green clean your home. Put away the clorox and bleach and bring out the baking soda, water and lemon.

4- Use natural decorations. Holy berries, beeswax candles, rosemary twigs bring the outdoors in...

5- Leftovers. COMPOST them (without the meat and dairy, though) or DONATE to a local food bank or REPURPOSE items by making turkey tetrazzini or soup, etc.

Check out these helpful links: planet green 100-mile diet and these great links: http://psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_plan_a_green_thanksgiving
http://green.thefuntimesguide.com/2009/11/green_thanksgiving_day.php

Greening up baby

2009-11-03T18:29:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this article appearing in Abode magazine this month

“Babies just don’t need a gazillion things!” I couldn’t agree more with Dr. Dolly Garnecki, a local chiropractor and presenter of green mom workshops in town. This month we offer guidelines to help babies grow up green, which could end up saving you some green.

Paint: For your little one’s room, choose PVC-free wall coverings and paint without VOCs (volatile organic compounds). If your house was built before 1978, check for lead paint.

Furniture: Try local secondhand stores. For cribs, first verify the consumer safety guidelines for proper rail spacing and other safety considerations at cpsc.gov.

Buying new? Choose Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood. It’s harvested with care. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification is industry-led, less stringent, and possibly an illegitimate measure. See the National Resources Defense Council website for more.

Clothing: Choose secondhand or handmade clothing at farmers markets and craft fairs. Recycled fabric and organic cotton are lower-impact.

Toys: Less is more. Remember, babies and toddlers enjoy the box as much as the toy, so no need to overindulge. Embrace hand-me downs, both giving and receiving. If you decide to buy, choose domestic. I liked to rotate toys every two weeks, moving toys from one room to another. It keeps things fresh. Consider starting a toy-swap-rotation with other parents: Gather six toys your baby (and you) can part with, disinfect them with vinegar and hot water, and exchange at a monthly play date.

Keeping it simple will help you stay sane. And it’s O.K. to to give in to the occasional necessary bright pink plastic item!

Join the world tomorrow!!

2009-10-23T09:20:00.001-07:00

Jessica and I have been emailing this morning and what better way to get back in the blogosphere with a CALL TO ACTION tomorrow. Hope to see you there at 3:50pm at the downtown chalk board for Charlottesville's 350 event!!

Some links:

The 350.org Map of Actions:
http://www.350.org/map#/map/38.02961946201688/-78.47632884979248/16

http://www.350.org/about (this page has the most comprehensive information in one place)
http://www.350.org/media
http://www.350.org/science

From Jessica, the event coordinator:

I love living in Charlottesville. As a progressive and green-leaning small city, there are so many good things happening - the city markets, green roofs on government buildings, progressive elected leaders, a growing local foods movement; the list goes on and on. As I watched the 350.org movement grow, I was certain that someone would organize an event for Charlottesville.

There are a couple of churches that are doing local events, and two different groups are hiking Humpback Rock, but nothing was happening in the heart of the city. I had the idea that the Free Speech wall was a good last minute meeting spot - the wall is there as a place for the citizens of Charlottesville to make their voices heard - what better platform for spreading the word?

As our country and our world move toward global climate talks in Copenhagen, it is imperative that we speak up about what is important to us. Our leaders cannot speak for us if we don't tell them what is important to us. One voice may be lost in the wind, but when we stand together, we can make a difference. I believe that Charlottesville can stand up tomorrow like we did for the Earth Week events earlier this year, and like we do for so many other important issues, and make our collective voices heard.

We may be one small city, but when we stand with the over 4600 actions in 177 countries, we can make a difference. I hope that anyone who hopes for a better tomorrow will come out and join the movement.

I will be at the Free Speech wall tomorrow at (or before) 3:50 pm with extra chalk, rain or shine. I will have a camera there, and will make sure that the group photo gets uploaded to the 350.org site as soon as I get home. All photos that are taken and uploaded will be streamed in Times Square in New York City (and I believe that they will also be displayed at the UN, but I can't find the documentation on that one!) I would urge anyone who will be joining the action to visit the 350.org website and read up about the climate science behind the movement. I will have some talking points with me, and a speech from Bill McKibben to read to the group.

Thanks so much for spreading the word on this!
Jessica

No problem, Jessica. Happy to do it

Betty, Bruce and Brad talk greener transport options

2009-10-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

Concerned Cvillians:

[This blog comes in part from the Bruce and Betty show on transportation, helpful local green info/interview on 1061 the Corner, airing on Friday morning, October 9 at 9am]

The EPA tells us that transportation accounted for approximately 29 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2006. And it's the fastest-growing source of U.S. GHGs, accounting for 47 percent of the net increase in total U.S. emissions since 1990. Transportation is also the largest end-use source of CO2, which is the most prevalent greenhouse gas. We MUST, MUST, we MUST reduce our DRIVING... First, figure out your transport footprint HERE

Now let's talk HOW to increase efficiency, reduce your driving and thereby save money and precious dinosaur blood AND help keep our air clean!

1- Choose an alternative mode of driving once a week:
*Go car free and walk
*Carpool
*Take public transportation
*Bike
*Take the Go-Green taxi service to the airport
*Take the rickshaw! (Check out Betty's directory under T for transport)

2-Buy Smart - check out the cool green vehicle guide at the EPA's website

3-Drive Smart by following these fuel efficient tips:

*Consolidate trips
*Avoid quick starts and stops
*The speed limit is not just there for safety, it's recommended based on Fuel Efficiency
*Get rid of excess weight in your car (I'm not talking about going on a diet here - make sure you get the trunk off the roof in a timely fashion and removed what you don't need from the trunk)
*Don't idle for more than 60 seconds. Turn off your engine.
*I recommend keeping a driving log and see if you can reduce your weekly miles traveled
*Ask you

4-Maintain your car by...
*keeping your tire pressure at the correct psi for the season (check the inside of the driver's side door)
*keep the manufacturer's recommended grade oil in your car and replaced regularly

5-Check into using renewable fuels

*There are two local alternative fuel stations in Charlottesville - for E85 and biodiesel.

Most of these tips can be found at this very helpful site: fueleconomy.gov

Every contribution you make in the way of effiencing and reducing driving makes a difference!

Thanks,
BWB

Greening your Greenbacks

2009-10-06T15:14:00.000-07:00

Greening your greenbacks - enjoy this month's column found in Abode

Think about this: Your hard-earned money in the bank could very well be funding activities you would find appalling: say, oil exploration in Antarctica’s wildlife refuge. How can you ensure your dollars are promoting the better world we all envision?

Greener banking
Simple steps include going paperless: Decline ATM receipts (at 8 billion transactions per year, that makes a difference), use auto deposits, and obtain tax forms, bank statements, investments materials online. More importantly, where do you shop for a mortgage and do your other banking? The Better World Handbook recommends using local credit unions, not-for-profit institutions with a mission to serve their community, and therefore preferable to large banking institutions whose practices are more about profits than the planet.

Greener investing
“If you are truly invested in a better future, socially responsible investing (SRI) just makes better sense,” according to Ryan Miracle of FMI, a socially responsible investment firm in Waynesboro. Screening is a good first step. This means excluding companies that violate your personal values and including companies which match them.

Another way to effect change is through shareholder advocacy where the fund manager acts on behalf of your beliefs about, for example, the importance of sustainable business practices. Community investing designates funds for specific organizations who are making change at a grassroots level.

Now the burning question. Is there more risk with SRI? Miracle has good news: “The Domini 400 (a sustainability index) has outperformed the S&P 500 since 1990.” Check socialinvest.org for a list of socially responsible mutual funds, a comprehensive screening chart, and financial performance data.

GLOSSARY of Eco-Investing Terms:
Triple bottom line: people, planet, and profits
Negative screening: simply excluding companies that violate your personal values
SRI funds: Socially Responsible Investment
ESG: Environment Social Government (industry term for SRI)

Check out Better World Betty’s local green living resource list at betterworldbetty.org

Betty

What's for dinner, kids? LOCAL foods!

2009-10-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

Last weekend it was a pleasure to hang with my friend Melissa at Piedmont Environmental Council (and the Buy Fresh, Buy Local campagin) and my loyal Betty volunteer Eric Betthauser and Lisa Reeder, owner/writer of a Local Notion and fellow columnist for the Cville Weekly at the ANNUAL VEGGIE FEST!! The rain was a bit of a downer, but the die hards were out, thankfully.

I hope you have had a chance to pick up the Eat Local Challenge Form. This is a fun and doable step into the local fresh food scene. For us it was easy with our CSA share, but if you still aren't a member of a CSA (Community Sustained Agriculture), you can still manage to get your 21 foods in 21 days buy shopping at the local farmer's markets or Integral Yoga/Rebecca's/Whole Foods or if you are a stellar gardener you may still be harvesting the fruits of your own labor.

(Confession here: today we finally weeded our extremely unstellar garden - the deer were not hampered by my short bamboo sticks and net fencing! But we did find a 5 foot long black snake and a cute toad!)

So in the past week I've been able to get creative with some yummy squash soup, apple pumpkin muffins, and tonight roasted rutebaga. Surprise,surprise my boys turned their nose up. But I found it delicious!

Eating local strengthens our local economy and helps support endangered family farms and protect the environment AND delivers great taste and freshness!

You still have until next Sunday (Oct 11)to participate by filling out the form and sending it in. The prizes are from the great sponsors:

The Charlottesville Cooking School
Feast!
Blue Ridge Eco-Shop
Revolutionary Soup
Caromont Farm
Blue Mountain Brewery
Open Gate Farm
MAS
C and O
and Dr. Ho's Humble Pie (suddenly I'm craving the best pizza around!)

Bon Appetit!
BWB

Green ideas for RIGHT NOW... Betty's Bakers Dozen List

2009-09-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the get-started now tips I shared during my radio interview (broadcast on 1070AM WINA tomorrow morning at 8:30am with Jennifer Till of the Jennifer Till Real Life show airing on Saturday mornings (check out www.jennifertill.com):

1- Reduce your driving. Have one day a week car-free or join a car pool. Contact: www.rideshareinfo.org

2- Buy local and organic food when possible. Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

3- Shift your thermostat by 3 degrees each season (Savings: up to 10% on energy bills)

4- Reduce your junk mail (Unsolicited junk mail uses 62 million trees a year!)

5- Embrace the three minute shower

6- Vinegar and baking soda are your cleaning friends. (You don't need a different chemical cleaner for each area of your home)

7- Say "NO" to disposables. Bring your own utensils and reusable bottles

8- Think local when gift-giving during holidays and birthdays: choose a gift certificate to a local business like Feast! or Read It Again Sam

9- Clothing: buy second-hand, host a clothing swap, line dry

10- Skip one red meat meal per week (meat is resource intensive) and eat sustainable fish (download or order your wallet card at www.seafoodwatch.org)

11- Install CFL or LED light bulbs and buy energy-efficient appliances (Govt estimates say if every American did this, it would be the equivalent of taking a million cars off the road!)

12- Tighten up your home: sealing any cracks or leaks will maximize your home's energy efficiency

13- Sign up for Betty's online newsletter which includes monthly tips and local eco-news at betty@betterworldbetty.org

In-joy, in the Earth Kitchen,
Betty

On becoming water wise...

2009-09-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

As I sit here boiling water for my tea after my son's took their bath and with the (ultra water efficient bosch brand)dishwasher running, I am thinking about water. How precious this natural resource is that I too often take for granted. Of all the elements, I love water the most. The ocean is my favorite, but sometimes I get in a mode where "I must be around water!" So I head to Riverview Park or take the canoe down the Rivanna, or head to Sugar Hollow or a nice getaway is Ivy Creek.

If I love water so much, why don't I know more about our 50 year water plan and the heated debate surrounding it, I ask myself. I have my excuses, but the reality I likely share with many of you is that a feeling of being overwhelmed by all the complexities and differing viewpoints of the plan. This happens on the path toward more environmentally-responsible living. It's easy to get bogged down. It's hard to keep up, right? And we can't do it all at once...

Well, it's not as hard as you think. Tonight I'm making a renewed committment to be informed. Join me...

Where do we start?

My favorite tool for becoming informed on issues that directly affect our way of life here (without any spin factor or snarkiness): Charlottesville Tomorrow. Hats off to Brian Wheeler and Sean Tubbs and their board who have a class one non-profit organization whose mission is to keep us informed and engaged in the public discourse and therefore more motivated and able to take the next step: ACTION.

To connect on a broader, deeper level to our water here in Charlottesville, I'm going to take time to listen/read their online publication entitled "Our Water. Our Future." I just took a few minutes and listened to the first issue and already I'm feeling better informed.

From their website/email: "That's the title of Charlottesville Tomorrow's online publication on the state of our local water supply. As a subscriber to our e-mail alerts, you will be notified each of the six issues is published. With this message, I am pleased to announce that the fifth issue is now available on our website. cvilletomorrow.org

"Our Water Our Future" is an engaging online publication being released sequentially over this summer. Of course we will share facts, figures, and analysis, but you will also see informative illustrations, charts, and movies, plus hear some of the audio we have collected over the course of many community meetings.
We welcome your feedback and participation. I hope you will take advantage of the ability to comment on the content and even contribute your own insights to the detailed articles linked throughout “Our Water Our Future.”

Finally, here is a simple link to this project which you can share with your friends and neighbors: http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/water ."

Once you're informed, take action with Betty's help. Look up rainwater harvesting in the directory, find out about the city/county water saving kits, and look to see if there are any water/stream clean up events in the near future...

Thanks, guys!
BWB

Local eco-sense for buying, reusing, recycling your appliances

2009-09-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a recap of the show without the Betty and Bruce banter and/or mouth misfires...

Small appliances like toasters, food processors, microwaves, coffee pots, irons: NOW: Don't leave them plugged in. That draws a small amount of energy that's just wasted.
If they work and you're done with them? Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat, Freecycle. If they don't work, call Cycle Systems (formerly Coiners). They took our old microwave last year.

Bigger appliances:
Let's talk big losers in the home. We're not talking about the Bruce and Brads out there (joking!)It's the refrigerator. According to the EPA, the refrigerator averages about 9% of your home energy use.
NOW: Turn down the setting to 40 degrees and regularly get rid of the dust bunnies so the air is free to flow and don't lurk at the contents with the fridge doors open, just like your mom told you to!
If you have the money? Go to energystar.gov and research the highest efficiency models. Side doors are the least efficient. And if you have 2 fridges in your home (20% of Americans do), consider getting one big one. That could save you money and energy.

Dishwashers:
NOW: Do full loads, use biodegradable detergent, be choosy about your settings.
If you have the money? Buy a dishwasher with a .65 energy star number. Some models use 1/2 the water. We bought a BOSCH dishwasher last year and LOVE it. I consider them a progressive/green-minded company I can trust.

Washer/Dryers:
Refer to last weeks column in the Abode or in previous blog.
NOW: Full loads, cold water - Remember that hot/warm water rinses cost 5-10 times more. If you have the money? Check the cool tips on in the column

Water Heater:
NOW: Turn down the setting to 120 degrees. Use an insulation blanket. If you have the money, check out ACEEE.org for tips.

LOCAL OPTIONS for RECYCLING APPLIANCES:
When in doubt check Betty's search tool. If they work and are not absolutely egregiously uber-unefficient, Freecycle them or take them to Habitat.

Bulky Waste free Amnesty Day at the Ivy Material Utilization Center (fondly called Muck in the Biz): Saturday, October 10. check www.rivanna.org The freon will be recycled and the remaining will be stripped down at Cycle Systems.

Some local retail/repair companies will take it to Cycle Systems for you. Ask them what they do with broken appliances - if they say "trash" them, be an advocate by asking them if they would consider recycling it instead.

OR wait to find out about Virginia's cash for appliance program (similar to cash for clunkers - thanks to Obama's stimulus package) due out sometime this fall where residents are expected to get 50-200 dollars for the appliance when they purchase a newer, more efficient model.

Want another resource for savings?? Check out the tax incentives for solar heating and things like new water heaters at www.energytaxincentives.org

Don't just take Betty's word for it - do your own research at energystar.gov and an AWESOME resource the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy or ACEEE.org.

And remember, if Betty is helping you SAVE money and SAVE the environment, please consider making a donation. (We a non-profit, all volunteer org!)

Best,
BWB

Greenwashing we can get behind

2009-09-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

Betty's September column appears below and in Abode online!

An inherited and ultra-inefficient clothes washer nearing its death was the inspiration for this month’s topic: tips for a green laundry room makeover! At 400 loads of laundry a year per family (more for us messy outdoor-types, like my two favorite sons), conservation is Betty’s call to action.

When purchasing:
The good news is new washer technology can yield up to 40 percent energy savings. Start shopping by checking out the Energy Star website (energstar.gov) and look for labels with higher MEF (Modified Energy Factor), which means higher efficiency, and low WF (Water Factor). Front loaders initially cost more, but clearly win in terms of water and energy efficiency. Conventional clothes washers use about 40 gallons of water for a complete cycle; large capacity, resource-efficient models use less than 25 gallons; smaller models use less than 10. Pick one with plenty of water level options and faster spin speed.
Dryers unfortunately don’t have Energy Star labels, but a moisture sensor is the important feature here. Take your old washers and dryers to Cycle Systems (formerly Coiners) for recycling.

When using:
You’ve heard the basics: full loads, cold water (remember: a hot water wash with warm rinse costs 5 to 10 times more than a cold wash and rinse), and biodegradable detergent. Clear your dryer lint filter after each cycle and avoid non-biodegradable fabric softeners (I use Nellie’s Dryer Balls). Drying several loads in a row will take advantage of residual heat. Of course line-drying is uber-green.
An easy tip we shouldn’t forget: Wearing clothes more than once before washing extends their longevity. Check the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s site, acee.org, for more information.

Slow Sunday

2009-08-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when I feel like everyone is back in the ville and turned the frazzle meter to mock 10. No more vacations, staycations, breaks. Sign ups, disclosure statement signatures, deadlines, bills, car inspections, are all due the same day and I've somehow managed to miss the majority of them! Case in point, the "new set of markers" on the 3rd grade back to school list. "Mom, I had to borrow Joseph's marker because you're Betty and won't buy me anything with plastic!" Grrrr. What next? My mom will be calling to figure out the Thanksgiving menu?! Calgon...I mean all-natural dr. bonner's all-purpose soap... take me away, right?

If you feel like this, I recommend embracing a SLOOOOWWW Sunday. A car-free Sunday. An Earth-filled, breezy, lazy, Sunday! Ignore all the shoulds and have-tos and stressers and recharge.

How?

Embrace the 3 P's: pause, patience, and play!

The kids and I took a picnic lunch and the Better World Beagle and went to the creek for a picnic. But this wasn't a normal nature walk. We were on a hunt. A hunt for cool nature objects to collect for our fairy house. Actually since I have two boys, we called it a Nature Landscape. We were inspired by the a man/woman artist team we met in Salt Lake City who build ginormous tree houses, including fairy furniture, out of everything they find in Nature. You can imagine me in front of their farmer's market booth, wide-eyed and ready to abandon my family right then and there and apprentice with these two magical folks.

http://www.artmajeur.com/debbieschramer/

http://fairyfurnitureclasses.blogspot.com/

Ours was a valiant effort for our first try, as pictured above, don'thca think? The more important part was the process of connecting to Mother Nature miraculously at play - the caterpillar we spied in our search eating a maple leaf and the surprise and excitement at Mugsy finding a snake.

Going slow, just being invites the love, the grace, and the gratitude back in to what often feels like rushing, chaotic, stressful lives.

In-joy,
BWB

Betty's Top Ten Back-to-School Tips!

2009-08-14T05:36:00.000-07:00

Save money, trees, resources by using what you already have...

1- Use last year's backpack. (If you buy a heavier duty one like our favorite Land's End you will pay a bit more up front, but it will last - my 8 yr old is on his third year with the same backpack)

2-Raid your junk drawer, home office, old backpacks, etc. for pencils, pens, scissors, and markers. You may very well have many supplies already in the home.

3-Bring a reusable water bottle to school instead of disposable plastic water bottles.

4-Use last year's lunch box (not a paper sack), pack using reusable containers and a cloth napkin (voila: a zero-waste lunch)

When you purchase...

5-Buy recycled paper and pencils: just google recycled money pencils or recycled pencils and you'll find a bunch of great links. (Crayons: soy-based are your non-petroleum based option.)

6-Opt for canvas or cardboard binders, instead of the plastic ones. (Check Staples eco line, Whole Foods, Blue Ridge Eco-shop)

7-Look for TREE-FREE notebooks - i.e. made of recycled paper or sugar cane (that funny word Bruce said on the radio show)

8-Encourage others to reuse school supplies, pencils made of old/unusable money or leftover sugar cane waste are so cool your friends will want one!!

9-Make sure your classroom and school is recycling (All county schools have an extensive recycling program beginning last year)

10-If you see excess, be an advocate by asking questions, and sharing your concern and desire to see a "less is more" attitude

10+: bike, bus, or school pool (www.rideshare.org - check their school pool list!)

Going West...

2009-08-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

So you'll have to excuse the self-indulgent attempt below at waxing poetic about my recent (and only) summer travel. I'm no Rachel Carson or John Muir, but we just returned from Utah (a place near to my heart, having spent almost 20 years there before moving to Charlottesville 10 years ago) And I have to share!

Not many people know that Utah contains FIVE of the nation's most beautiful national parks: Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, Capitol Reef. My fondest memories of growing up there include biking Slick Rock in Moab, backpacking in the High Uintah mountains, and repelling 50 ft into the Narrows in Zion National Park. Nature beckons you to play there and it's so accessible. Last year my girlfriend and I found ourselves at the base of pristine mountain lake within 15 minutes drive from the Salt Lake Valley. I believe people there may tend to take Mother Nature and her beauty for granted. I know I did.

This trip was for the Kent family reunion, so I wasn't able to soak up as much as I would have liked the red rock desert solitude, hundreds of miles from any billboard or 7-11(don't take that personally, family).

But we were able to squeeze in a tasty visit to Salt Lake City's farmer's market (above), a peaceful raft down the Provo river (minutes away from Robert Redford's Sundance) - the picture above is Bridal Veil Falls, a hike at the base of Mount Timpanogos (not pictured), and a visit to see ancient petroglyphs at Parowan Gap (last picture above).

Did you know that Utah has more Native American petroglyphs and pictographs that any other state?

And I was lucky enough to visit one of the most prolific galleries concentrated in one area: Parowan Gap. When I stared upon these rocks and looked beyond them at the horizon of desert sagebrush, I felt gratitude for being there: a witness to another being's tool for communication from centuries ago. And I longed to know more about what they were telling us. The meaning of the petroglyphs isn't fully understood - tribes, archaelogists, historians have different stories to tell. Some (the sheep) are more clear than others (stryations forming a zipperlike shape).

For me, the only certainty I left with was how connected ancient peoples were to the land. And a taste for how I can help our community be even hungrier for connection to our planet.

I thought about all of the quick and easy ways we can connect and communicate in today's world - cell phones, internet, blogs, email, FB. But to what end? Late night you tube surfing, internet shopping, quipping and out-clevering on facebook?

I'm not trying to pass judgement here. I do all of these things too. But I ask you this admist all of our quick ways we can connect to others today: How "well-connected" are you? Do you include a favorite tree, butterflies, other friends of the natural world? (The first tree I would "friend" on my FB is that amazing magnolia between Park and Rio Road!)

I like Terry Tempest Williams' wider lens: "I believe our path toward the future is as it has always been - a people in a place with a commitment to community. Staying put. Slowing down. Listening. Learning... the names of our neighbors. Which she includes the pronghorn antelope, sego lily..." If we are to live in better balance and harmony, we must include the plants, trees, animals, rivers. And "friend" them in ways that go beyond this e-venue.

In-love-of-East-and-West,
BWB

Don't Bug Me

2009-08-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

You can also read this month's article in Abode.

Not that I would know from experience (wink, wink) but if you’ve got unwanted guests like ants, mosquitoes, gnats and flies in your kitchen, there are some ways to evacuate the varmints without using hazardous pesticides.

The simple solution: sanitation. You may not want to hear this, but the best way to deter critters is having a cleaner place than your neighbor. Frequent vacuuming or mopping along with regular vinegar wipe-downs work well, along with keeping a tight lid on trash containers, compost pails and stored food items. Also, be sure to take up pet foods at night.

Alternative critter concoctions. First locate the path of entering pests, sealing any cracks or openings. Once you find the source, apply one of these eco-friendly alternatives:

• baby or talcum powder
• lemon/orange rinds
• cayenne or chili powder
• peppermint oil (or Dr. Bonner’s Peppermint Soap)

Feeling less friendly? This ant hotel recipe might do the trick. Combine 1 cup borax and 1 cup sugar water and pour over loose wads of toilet paper in a reusable jar with holes poked in the lid. Place in strategic areas and hope for a sugar-induced overdose. (Don’t use if you have young kids and pets).

Homemade flypaper. Collect unwanted winged creatures by making your own flypaper. Combine 1/4 cup of your favorite syrup with 1 Tbs. of brown sugar and 1 Tbs. of white sugar. Brush 18” strips of a recycled brown bag, dry and hang.

As for mosquitoes, citronella products are great, once you’ve eliminated any areas of standing water.

And remember: Keep your spiders around because they like their steady diet of bugs!

Integrating Local Foods into Your Life...

2009-07-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Bruce and Betty show focus for Friday, July 31st: SUPPORTING LOCAL and MORE SUSTAINABLE FOODS. This from my fellow earth-loving friend, Dawn Story, who has been working Kay's Kitchen, a local community project working to serve local farm-fresh food to homeless in the area. Thanks Dawn for letting us post your living document (i.e. please add comments and suggestions) on the Betty Blog!

25 Ways to Integrate Local Foods into Our Lives
Dawn Story, Growing Food & Community 2009
________________________________________
1. Buy locally produced food to support our small, regional farms and preserve our agricultural heritage and traditions. It strengthens our local economy and reinforces the web that connects us to others within our communities. It safeguards our environment and lessens our dietary carbon footprint by reducing the number of miles our food has been shipped. Piedmont Environmental Council’s Buy Fresh Buy Local food directory is the ultimate resource for sourcing local food. Go to: www.buylocalvirginia.org.
2. Shop at one of many local farmers markets. Get to know the farmers. Listen to their stories and learn their growing practices. Touch, smell and taste fresh, healthy and locally grown food. I say, “Meet a farmer, make a friend”. For a local listing, go to www.buylocalvirginia.org. For a statewide listing, go to: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/vagrown-july/pdf/frmsmkts.pdf or www.localharvest.org.
3. Patronize grocers that sell locally produced food and request your favorite producers. For a list, go to: www.buylocalvirginia.org or www.localharvest.org.
4. Dine at restaurants that include local food on the menu. Inquire about where the food on the menu comes from. Recommend your favorite local producers. For a list, go to: www.buylocalvirginia.org or www.localharvest.org.
5. Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). A CSA is a mutually supportive relationship between local farmers and community members with annual membership fees to cover farm production costs. Members receive weekly “shares” of the harvest during the local growing season which ensures them tasty, nutritious food and a deeper connection to their food source and community. For a list of regional CSAs, go to: www.buylocalvirginia.org or www.localharvest.org.
6. Eat fresh produce in seasonal and learn to cook with it. Consuming local foods within season is the diet that nature intended and is designed to supply us with many of the nutrients we need for health and well-being. These most auspicious foods allow us to take in the terroir – or essence – of the land from which they are grown. For a seasonal availability chart, go to: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/vagrown/chart.shtml, or pick up a copy of one of our many regional food ‘zines featuring recipes and articles on seasonal foods, such as In The Kitchen, Flavor, Piedmont Virginian Magazine and Edible Blue Ridge,. The Weston A. Price Foundation (www.westonaprice.org) is a great resource for learning the art and appreciation of traditional food preservation and preparation. Or visit the Sustainable Table website at www.sustainabletable.org for a fusion of food advocacy and education, cooking methods and ideas. Alternatively, take a class in cooking with local food from Charlottesville Cooking School (www.charlottesvillecookingschool.com) or the Seasonal Cook (www.seasonalcook.com).
7. Sign up for the EAT Local list serve to stay abreast of – and to post -- current, local food issues and resources. Do so at: https://list.mail.virginia.edu/mailman/listinfo/sustcomfood.
8. Go visit a farm. Attend a nearby farm tour and meet those behind our local food supply. While you’re at it, try harvesting your own food at one of the area’s many U-Pick farms and orchards. For a list of U-Pick farms and farm tours, go to: www.buylocalvirginia.org or to http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/vagrown/index.shtml.
9. Participate in a community garden plot at either Meadowcreek Park or Azalea Park through Charlottesville Parks and Rec. Call 434-970-3592 for more info. Or, collaborate with your neighbors or home owners association to start one in an unused community greenspace. For more information on community garden projects in general, go to: www.communitygarden.org.
10. Get involved with an urban garden program, such as Quality Community Council’s Urban Farm Initiative. For more information, go to: http://cvilleqcc.com/Farm.aspx.
11. If you have a yard, plant a garden of your own and replace chemical and energy-intensive lawns with edible plants (fruit and nut trees, berries, herbs and vegetables)! For more information, go to: www.foodnotlawns.com. For courses teaching permaculture and sustainable gardening, contact the Blue Ridge Permaculture Network (http://www.blueridgepermaculture.net). Better yet, visit Edible Landscaping in Afton and taste your way around their diverse supply of functional and edible plants. www.ediblelandscaping.com. Or, to hire someone to garden for you contact info@growingfoodandcommunity.org.
12. If you don’t have a yard, learn about container gardening. Lots of foods can be grown in pots on patios and balconies and in windowsills. For consulting services, contact Growing Food & Community: info@growingfoodandcommunity.org.
13. Learn the art of traditional food preservation techniques (such as canning, drying and fermentation) and take advantage of surplus fruits and vegetables during a seasonal glut. Resources include: http://www.seasonalchef.com/preserver.htm, www.canningpantry.com, www.wildfermentation.com, www.sacredplanttraditions.org, http://www.ext.vt.edu.
14. Become an agricultural entrepreneur. Turn an old, cherished family recipe into a specialty food sensation by creating a great product using local ingredients and marketing it. Find out more by visiting the Virginia Agriculture & Food Entrepreneurship Program at www.vafep.org.
15. Share surplus food and garden supplies with friends and neighbors in need or to area food banks and community kitchens like the Thomas Jefferson Area Food Bank (http://www.brafb.org) and the Charlottesville-area Emergency Food Bank (http://avenue.org/efb). Donate unusable yet perishable CSA shares by contacting the Charlottesville Community Food Project. Their website is: www.ccfp.wordpress.com.
16. Get involved in community foods projects or start one of your own. Find out what initiatives are taking place and how to get involved by joining Transition Blue Ridge’s “Food & Agriculture” committee. www.transitionblueridge.org. Or contact info@growingfoodandcommunity.org for more ideas.
17. Talk to your friends, family and neighbors about the importance of eating locally, the state of our current food insecurity and what options are available. Form a “support” group and, together, take the “locavore” challenge! For ideas go to www.eatlocalchallenge.com.
18. Host or attend a dinner party with a local foods theme. Discuss where and how the foods were grown and compare the taste and vibrancy of these foods to processed and far-travelled foods. Not sure how to organize one, let alone cook up fresh, local produce and foods for a crowd? Contact Lisa Reeder, our local food and drink consultant extraordinaire at www.alocalnotion.wordpress.com.
19. Host or attend a showing of a documentary on food production and supply issues and follow it with a discussion. Check out our area’s own “Meet the Farmer” cable television program featuring interviews with local food producers, buyers and consumers to hear what current issues are facing our local food supply and what initiatives are taking place. Go to www.meetthefarmer.tv. Good feature films to screen include “The Future of Food”, “King Corn”, “The Real Dirt on Farmer John”, “The World According to Monsanto”, “Power of Community”, “Peak Moment Television” and “Eat At Bills,” available from Netflix, by searching online or by special order from your local video rental.
20. Join forces with others interested in discussing local food issues, initiatives taking place and how to get involved. Transition Blue Ridge hosts a monthly community dialogue about food (www.transitionblueridge.org). Express your concerns, ideas and opinions so that our local officials are aware that food security is an important issue. Support organizations that advocate for scale-appropriate agricultural laws like the Virginia Independent & Consumers Association (www.vicfa.org). Check out what is happening with the Virginia Food Policy Council by going to http://groups.google.com/group/VAFoodPolicy.
21. Preserve our agricultural heritage and biodiversity by learning the practice of seed saving. Go to: www.southernexposure.com to learn about seed saving, to buy seeds and to get information on attending the annual Monticello Heritage Harvest Festival on September 12.
22. Catch rainwater from the roof in rain barrels or cisterns to conserve precious water that can be used to irrigate the garden without taxing our water supply. Contact our local rain barrel guru, Brian Buckley, at brianbuckley4@yahoo.com or find them at the EcoShop in Preston Plaza, Charlottesville next to Integral Yoga (where you can also buy local produce!).
23. Support organizations working to ensure a safe, nutritious and equitable food supply through volunteering and donating useful supplies and through making financial contributions. Volunteer opportunities abound at any of the aforementioned organizations and initiatives. Also find out about volunteer and benefactor opportunities for the new day haven and community kitchen serving the Charlottesville-area’s hungry and homeless (slated to be open this fall) by contacting info@growingfoodandcommunity.org.
24. Learn and practice sustainable farming in the state of Virginia by reaching out to groups like the Virginia Association for Biological Farming (www.vabf.org), the Center for Rural Culture (www.centerforruralculture.org), the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (www.ssawg.org).
25. Vote with your dollar. Remember, every local food purchase you make contributes toward building a safe, secure, healthy food system and supply.

Calling all yogurt lovers!

2009-07-26T05:03:00.000-07:00

This article is from Betty fan, educator, dj, ever-talented, ever-helpful Eric Betthauser! You may have met him at the Saturday farmer's market downtown. (Thanks for all your time and enthusiasm, Eric)

Ah, fantastic plastic. It has brought so many benefits to our lives, not the least of which is lightweight, shatter-proof food containers. Trouble is, they still often become long-term residents in the local landfill. So, what about recycling?

Charlottesville is better than most places, in that our city will recycle any plastic bearing the #1 (PETE) or 2 (HDPE). But, in most municipalities, “if it doesn’t have a neck, you can’t recycle it”. That includes plastic ice-cream pails, sour-cream tubs, defensive tackles and, yes, yogurt containers. It may be the “right” number (1 or 2), the recycling truck might even pick it up (they trash them at the end of the ride), but it’s not going to be recycled.

So, what’s an eco-conscious dairy lover to do? Well, you’ve got a few options:

 Make your own. Many of us do it, and it seems to be becoming popular again. Truthfully, after conquering the learning curve, making your own yogurt or kefir is pretty easy. With yogurt, the best method that I’ve found is to use a Thermos:
1. Bring a pint of milk to about 120o F (you can use a candy thermometer).
2. Stir in ¼ cup of plain yogurt.
3. When the mixture is at 105-110o, pour it into a Thermos, seal it, and put in the oven with the light on. (Or, you could wrap the Thermos in towels and set it in a warm place.
4. Let the mixture sit at that constant temperature for 7-10 hours (the longer it sits, the more tart the yogurt).

You can also buy packets of starter culture at natural-foods stores (rather than using a pre-packaged container of yogurt); it is produced by the Canadian company Lyo-sant. If you’re not willing to do the make-your-own, you have several other options:

• Reuse those containers. This may go without saying, but reusing is always step 1, before recycling. The only trick is to figure out how comfortable you are with reusing plastic, which may leach chemicals.
• Buy from Stonyfield Farm. They have a recycling program, by which you can send them your old (clean) containers, and they will recycle them. The inherent problems are that:
1. You need to package and pay to send them (although they do respond by sending you
coupons).
2. The energy, time, and expense of shipping something many kilometers (they’re
based in New Hampshire) may offset the benefits.
To their credit, Stonyfield Farm has done extensive research about packaging, and the simple fact that their yogurt is in lightweight Polypropylene (#5) plastic saves a lot in shipping (and therefore in gasoline). Also, they now put recyclable aluminum foil on their yogurt, rather than plastic lids. This makes it harder to reuse the containers, so, again, it’s a tradeoff.
• Gimme 5. This program was recently started by The Preserve. You can send any plastic containers bearing the number 5 (Polypropylene) back to them, and they will eventually turn them into toothbrushes. Whole Foods is also sponsoring this by placing drop-off bins in their stores (not in Charlottesville…yet),
• Buy kefir. Never tried it? This Middle Eastern drink, similar to yogurt, is readily available. Properly pronounced /kə-FEER/, it’s more of a liquid than yogurt, and it’s produced with a different starter culture. As a result, the flavor is a bit stronger than yogurt, it can be slightly effervescent, and it can even contain a small amount of alcohol. Helios produces plain, peach, raspberry, and other flavors, and they’re all made from organic milk. Helios is now owned by Lifeway Foods, who also produce a line of regular and lowfat kefir, some of which uses organic milk. Additionally, Lifeway has begun offering small bottles of the Indian drink lassi. All of these products are bottled in High-Density Polyethylene (#2), recyclable virtually everywhere.

Making kefir is quite simple, too: Place the starter culture in a container of milk, let it sit at room temperature for a day or two, strain, and enjoy. Starter grains are available at natural-foods stores, or online at http://www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com/kefir_culture.htm (a Minnesota company)

On your marks, get set, go...to the County Fair!

2009-07-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

I can't believe the Albemarle County Fair is just over a week away! Lots of exciting NEW green initiatives have been implemented. Not the least of which is NO STYROFOAM and Adrienne Young's Backyard Revolution and Better World Betty's Booth at the Eco-Exhibit Tent. So much Bettier, everyone!

2009 Albemarle County Fair Eco-Initiatives:
Eco-Exhibit Tent
Eco-friendly Landscaping Exhibits
Recycled Materials being used throughout
Elimination of Styrofoam
Waste Recycling and Recovery

I also want to encourage you to enter the Home Arts Section 4: the Recycling contest!! (I hope my boys are still planning on entering this). Contact Sarah Nissen 434-977-3989 or check the website, but here are the details I have. The special rules are:

1-All items must be made with recycled materials.
2-Entries must have been prepared by the exhibitor
3-Entries must reflect original work by the exhibitor
4-Materials used must be identified
5-The entry should be self-explanatory
6-The department reserves the right to add or delete classes if the need arises

Classes:
1. Sculpture 2. Jewelry 3. Imprinting on Tin 4. Wine Corks 5. Wood 6. Paper 7. Metal 8. Stone 9. Plastic 10. Every Duct Tape 11. Miscellaneous

Free "Backyard Revolution" and singer/songwriter and creator of Backyard Revolution witll perform at the 2009 Albemarle County Fair. Young is an ardent supporter of sustainable agriculture, the preservation of our historical character, and the honorable aims of our ancestors. These beliefs are evident in her music. Adrienne has has integrated a national responsible-farming awarenesss campaign and fund-raising effort into the release of her third album "Room to Grow." Also don't miss Better World Betty and other environmental non-profits as well as local green businesses in the Albemarle Fair's Eco-tent this year sharing our vision for a sustainable future, helpful green living hints, and more! Remember to carpool and bring your own reusable water bottles.

Operating Hours: Tuesday, July 28th 4-11pm
Wednesday, July 28 4-11pm
Thursday, July 30 4-11pm
Friday, July 31 4-11pm
Saturday, August 1 10am-11pm
Sunday, August 2 1-6pm
Admission Prices: Adults $7, Seniors (60+)$6, Children (6-12) $3, Children (under 6)

Enjoy,
BWB

Betty brings you Green Spaces interview!

2009-07-15T05:24:00.000-07:00

(In) Play: Green Spaces Competition is an exhibit on display at the Charlottesville Design Center from July 10- August 31

From their website: "Every year the James River Green Building Council sponsors a design competition to showcase innovative strategies and practices in the field of sustainable design. This year's (In) Play competition challenged designers to address the evolving relationship between people and the natural world through play. Read more about the competition and view selected entries on the JRGBC website."

Better World Betty fan and our first guest blogger, Jan Ferrigan, did a video spotlight for us. It's the next best thing to going there and seeing it for yourself!

And here's the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfV5P44r86I

Thanks, Jan!
BWB

July's column in Abode: Green Gadgets that are worth it!

2009-07-09T13:35:00.001-07:00

Enjoy Betty's July article in Abode magazine here or at Abode.com
Green gadgets that are really worth it

Far be it from Betty to promote the latest, greatest green gizmo with a hefty price tag and made-in-China label, but I believe your pocketbook and the planet will appreciate these eco-gadgets.

The Smart Strip “is still the best bang for your buck as far as green gadgets,” according to Paige Mattson of the Blue Ridge Eco Shop. Given our love of Plasma HD, LCD, TV, and all things bright and flashy, it behooves all of us to conserve energy in any way we can. This powerstrip can sense when devices are on and off and acts accordingly to eliminate any excess energy drain. Reviews suggest the cost (around $40) can be recouped within months.

So many items in our home require the use of batteries, why not use solar battery chargers? They now come in all shapes, sizes, and options. Ubergreen geeks will love the HyMini which has an option to collect wind power while you jog, bike or ski! Given the wide price range, consider your budget and remember solar power requires some planning and patience.

Finally, two gadgets which conserve our most precious resource:
water. No plumber is needed for the Controllable Flush, a five-part handle replacement, which converts a standard toilet into dual flush.
After all, not every flush needs a full flush. (If it’s yellow...). A two-person household can save 15,000 gallons of water per year depending on your toilet!

The five-minute shower timer is simple, durable and costs $5. Suction cup this (recycled) plastic covered hourglass to a relatively dry area to help you to cut down your shower time. I used mine from the Charlottesville City (free from Earth Day) religiously. Here comes the green confession. I thought I was the queen of the quick shower (me: I'm sure I'll have left-over sand! shower timer: you were just daydreaming of your next Betty idea for at least 30 seconds!) Unfortunately that one wasn't shatter-proof (so check for when you purchase).

Here's to half-flushes and shorter showers!
BWB

2009-06-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

Rebecca Cooper stopped by my Betty booth yesterday at Whole Foods' Local Fare with a Betty-stumping question (that's a first!). So I am sending it out to the blogosphere in hopes of a helpful reply. Where to find the supplies and know-how to construct an indoor vertical garden? Check out the email below...

Hi, Betty!

You and I chatted at the Whole Foods Local Fare Fair about possibilities for building an indoor vertical garden, like this one by Smith and Hawken:

http://www.smithandhawken.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=prod1430005p&categoryId=cat970002p

Here’s another source… (although no longer available)

http://www.gardeners.com/Living+Wall+Indoor/37-085RS,default,pd.html?SC=XNET8002

I’m looking for a cheaper, DIY solution that would work in a small apartment. I’ve found that a search for “living wall” brings up some results (though none that are terribly helpful), but I’m wondering if anyone around Charlottesville knows how to make one of these (or even sells the parts that would be required). I think it would have broad appeal… especially in a more urban setting where space is at a premium. If you or your readers can point me in the right direction, I’d be grateful!

Thanks for your help!

-Rebecca

Architecture and Instruction Librarian
Fiske Kimball Fine Arts Library
rcooper@virginia.edu

SEEING GREEN...cool green links from local govt websites!

2009-06-26T05:46:00.000-07:00

Check out these cool new online tools that have me seeing green...

Albemarle County’s new Green Resource Map HERE (check the left hand side under: What's New - last link listed)

This cool map includes farmer's markets, recycling, green roofs, etc which I'm quite sure required the use of Betty's directory and search tool :-)!

Map features:
*Providing a resource for residents to find out where they can reuse, recycle and/or properly dispose of common household items (e.g. electronics, motor oil, inks/toner, compact fluorescent bulbs, etc.)
*Highlighting Park & Ride sites to make carpooling easier
*Featuring farmers market locations so that residents can choose to “eat local”
*Green demonstration projects for residents to tour/visit/see, such as LEED certified buildings, rain gardens, solar energy sites, green roofs, etc.

"The Green Resource Map is a very visual and engaging guide to a wide variety of local options that support the kind of sustainable lifestyle habits that many of our residents are very interested in," said Albemarle's Environmental Compliance Manager Sarah Temple.

The Green Resource Map is the newest of the County’s continuing efforts in promoting innovative environmental stewardship and climate protection. Other recent accomplishments include earning the prestigious ENERGY STAR rating for the County Office Building McIntire, reducing municipal energy conservation by 12% and achieving a savings of $113,000 in 2008 and installing solar energy panels on the County Office Building at 5th Street.

Next up... Charlottesville City's Water Use Calculator

June is Water Conservation Month which is a good reason to check out your water use and compare it to other residents in the area and then consider purchasing a rain barrel or implementing other steps to conserve.

Brian Buckley will be at the farmer's markets and is offering a five dollar discount if you mention Better World Betty! Between that and the city rebate program of 30 dollars - you are getting a rain barrel for a steal at $45! Don't forget to check out the Charlottesville's Green city page (to be honest, I still have a hard time finding from the Charlottesville' home page, so here's the link)

They have some really great water-saving tips for the home.

Thank you, local government, for providing these two important tools for change!
BWB

Yes We Can...Create Clean Energy Jobs in the Ville!

2009-06-23T16:03:00.001-07:00

(pictures are not uploading - will try later)

Today was yet another exciting day for Better World Betty, Charlottesville, and the larger Earth community as residents and community organizers joined our representatives and leaders in politics as they continue to forge the way toward a greener path.

5th District Congressman Tom Periello stood in front of Ms. Ingrid Feggans's home, where the "Creating Clean Energy Jobs: Helping People Helping the Environment" event was held to introduce a line-up of residents and political leaders who are . Her home was recently upgraded with the help of Eric Gilchrist, head of Spark's weatherization program, thereby reducing her energy costs (which were costing her in the thousands per month) and, it's important to mention our collective community carbon footprint.

A special treat for me was meeting Van Jones, author of a recent book I read Green Collar Jobs and Obama's advisor on Green Jobs and Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality - straight from the West Wing!

Joined by Mayor Dave Norris, Congressman Periello, were other government officials like Sally Thomas, Ann Malleck, Holly Edwards, David Brown, and David Toscano as well as community organizers like Karen Waters of QCC (with Todd, urban farm extraordinaire at Garrett Square), Charlottesville Design Center Director Jane Fisher's crew, yours truly, and so many other members of our community who care about conserving energy, saving money, better ways of tending the planet, and the people who live on it, who require meaningful paychecks to provide for their families.

HIGHLIGHTS:

One of those interested in getting a job was Michael Stewart, who spoke about his desire to enter the green job sector I couldn't help but notice he was the first person to mention coming together for the Earth. Of course saving money, the comfort of the home, securing good-paying jobs are paramount. And I appreciated his extending his enthusiasm and desire to take it a step further by speaking about the importance of helping the planet.

Mayor Norris and Congressman Periello outlined the win-win solutions of revolving load funds and other financing programs to help people pay for the necessary retrofits and energy efficiency upgrades which may be cost-prohibitive without help or payback programs. LEAP, the Local Energy Alliance Program, plans to launch their initiative in January of 2010 with exciting and far-reachiing plans to systematically reduce energy use here in Charlottesville, reaching a whopping 20-40%of the market. It's my hope Betty can play a role in this exciting program, continuing to be a tool get the word out about these measures and provide you with local action steps/resources found in the directory and events to make it easy for you to enact change. "Inch-by-inch," one of the presenters touted!

I was excited to learn that officials are working with Piedmont Vally Community College to design certification programs in various green job fields.

Chairwoman Nancy Sutley gave encouraging words to our community as they watch us from Washington to see how a city can really impact change. She emphasized the administration's desire to see us reduce energy use, innovate new more efficient technology, and implement energy-savings into our homes and businesses.

I'm feeling energized by all that's going on greenwise in our fair city. Thank you to the leadership and efforts of everyone involved.

Cheers,
BWB

Have you hugged a tree today?

2009-06-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

What are you doing on this cool, rainy, summer night?

I'm curling up to my favorite new book The Remarkable Trees of Virginia by local authors, photographers, tree lovers: Nancy Ross Hugo and Jeff Kirwan and Robert Llewellyn. I am in the process of tracking down photographer Robert Llewellyn, whom I first had the pleasure to meet at last year's Bread for a Better World event at Feast! He brought his lap top and was sharing recent tales of his trip to Iceland. What a passion he has for telling stories with his photography! I hope to track him down by the end of the summer for an interview about this amazing four year project of photographing and telling the stories of the most remarkable trees in Virginia. People all across Virginia nominated their favorite trees and after a long, arduous process, the trees were selected and photographed in all their glory. The categories are old trees, historic trees, champion trees, community trees, unique trees, fine specimens, noteworthy species, and mighty oaks. I just read the account of the Crying Tree in Marion, Virginia, whose story has been passed on from generations: Sally, a five year old slave girl was comforted by this tree when crying over her lost family after they were sold into slavery in Lynchburg, never to be seen again.

I find trees offer a beauty, presence, strength and solace to us which defies description.

When I first moved here from Utah ten years ago, I could think only of the majestic Rocky Mountains which were no longer within my sight every day. I missed them so much! The grounded, jagged, peaks of the Wasatch front (which line the valley of Salt Lake City) were an incredible canvas of color, light and texture at my favorite time of day: sunset.

With time though, I have come to adore the trees here in the Piedmont. I remember during recess at Sutherland Middle School (my first job here was teaching English there) staring up at the enormous pine trees telling my colleague, "You guys have got some amazing trees!" Some of my favorites are at UVA and in surrounding parks and homes. Last year I discovered a boxelder tree I call Old Man Elbow along the Rivanna River Trail near Riverview Park. Recently he lost one of his arms after a wild night of storms (a nearby Ash cascaded onto the main branch which hung over the Rivanna, which I'm quite sure served as a launch pad for many a daring Charlottesville youth.

The trees are jubilant this spring and summer with the copious amounts of falling rain. I hope you take an opportunity to get to know at least one - enough to hug it regularly.

I also hope you'll check out this lovely book and website.

If you or someone you know is interested in starting a tree club here in Charlottesville, I'll be the first one to sign up!

In-joy,
BWB

Green your tennis game

2009-06-08T04:54:00.000-07:00

In light of Federer's exciting French Open win, I decided to take the opportunity to do a little research on how to green one of my favorite sports, tennis. I played tennis for my high school team in Utah and I'm just now getting back into it here in Virginia. As a result our used tennis balls are really piling up.

Betty's on it...here are the tips she dug up:

1. Take your own water in a reusable bottle. Many courts offer water in paper or plastic, so this is an easy way to reduce waste.

2. Recycle your plastic tennis ball container, which is #1 plastic.

3. It IS POSSIBLE to recycle the tennis balls. How? Check out this cool new company out of Arkansas: www.rebounces.com. Start a collection box at your favorite tennis facility, send them your email for free shipping and handling, and then at the end of the summer or whenever it fills up, send them your tennis balls to be "rebounced." Rebounces' goal is to make tennis balls 100% recyclable. Bill, Cannon and Grant ask for your help in making Rebounces' dream a reality! If you want to keep it local instead, contact one of the elementary or high schools or senior centers. Tennis balls make great skid-proof chair slippers (placed on the legs of the chairs) or walker slippers.

4. Send this article to your favorite tennis pro who is in charge of your favorite tennis facility for other tips for greening the game. Ezine article

5. Raise your right hand, bend your elbow, and give yourself a nice pat on the back for doing your part in protecting our natural resources and closing the loop.

Here's to better bounces on the court!
BWB

Blue Jean Baby! Take 'em to Whole Foods

2009-06-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Newsflash to Betty fans! Take your old jeans to Whole Foods so they can be turned into insulation. Oh man, does this mean I'll have the green wherewithall to finally give up my favorite jeans ever, that have the right butt cheek torn out, both knees, frayed bottoms, but still fit perfectly?? Hmmm. Eco-conundrum. I'll get back to you. In the meantime, scour your closets and take a trip to Whole Foods, which is fast becoming its own comprehensive recycling center (watch out Vanderlinde - hee hee). Seriously, newspaper, plastic bags, compost, plastic, glass, the ubiquitous crocs, and now jeans. Nice!

BWB

Recycling: beyond the basics...

2009-06-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

Enjoy Betty's article in this month's Abode here or in newstands or on their website:

Recycling with the stars

You may already consider yourself a recycling expert, so this month two local pros, Sonny Beale of UVA Recycling and Bruce Edmonds of the McIntire facility, help answer recycling conundrums of a subtler kind.

DON’Ts: Avoid recycling the packaging from reams of paper, Sonny Beale reports. It is woven with protective plastic and damages recycling pulp machines. The same goes for the paper backing on sticker labels for nametags and mailings, as well as wax-coated paper cups and milk cartons. Tissues and paper towels cannot be recycled for sanitary reasons .

DOs: Turns out you don’t need to cut out the plastic window from your mail envelopes. “Just toss it in with your other junk mail and office paper,” Bruce says. Also, gift-wrapping paper (including tissue wrapping paper) is recyclable in the paper bin. Avid recyclers will be glad to know that Blue Ridge Packing Store on Preston reuses those annoying sheets of Styrofoam that large electronics or appliances are packed in, as well as air bags. Empty spray paint cans and other aerosol cans are recycled with the metal cans after removing the plastic top. And speaking of lids: The plastic ones join the 1s and 2s and metal jar tops join the steel bin.

Finally, how clean does the peanut butter jar have to be? “Pretty clean,“ Bruce advises. Which means? “One good rinse is enough; a dishwasher cycle is not necessary.” This comes from the head manager of a facility that boasts zero contamination. Trust it and recycle onward, green warriors!

Best,
BWB

Farmer's Market Finds!

2009-05-30T05:34:00.000-07:00

In the thirteen short minutes I had with my two hot, tired, hungry children (:-) we managed to flesh out this year's garden with plants AND buy some cool new glasses made from recycled wine bottles.

First, for all of you brown thumbs with a big heart like out there, perhaps our tale will inspire.

My five year old and I have been feeling rather discouraged from our attempts at growing seeds beginning inside in March. The first time I forgot to water them for over 24 hours (ironically enough around Earth Day - so many events, so little time for tending). Apologies and copious watering efforts proved futile.

We tried again - this time about half of those survived, so we bravely placed the thriving (ok maybe that's a strong word) plants onto the screened in porch before make the colossal jump to the garden. At which point half of those plants died. Our THIRD attempt we planted the seeds straight into the Earth. A whole new appreciation for farming has emerged, as have three lettuce plants, three pea plants, two beets and two cucumber plants (if we can't grow cucumbers, we might as well pack it in right now!) Good news: they look great, but lonely. So today we headed to the farmer's market today to fill in the gaps.

We chose our plants from Radical Roots - a community farm based in the Shenandoah Valley who grows high quality ecologically grown vegetables using permaculture principles. I found out about them from Christine Gyovai's class at Gaia. I am excited: we've got mini-watermelons, canteloup, sweet red pepper, brandywine and cherry tomatoes.

We hereby resolve to be mindful of watering our plants EVERYDAY with our cool new rainbarrel. And this year we aren't taking any chances with the deer. We took bamboo stalks and limbs from our pin oak and built a fence of deer-proof (we hope) netting; we plan on using St. Gabriel's deer repellant; hanging human hair from the posts from boy haircuts; and we're encouraging "camping" - (our family euphemism for permission to urinate outdoors). Stay tuned in later blogs for our imminent success.

The SECOND sweet farmer's market find was the four cool drinking glasses we bought from local industrial designer Jose R Rodriquez Bosch shown above. I got a chance to talk to him briefly about his creative designs, but look forward to a more in-depth interview. His current work includes glasses of all sizes made from beer bottles and wine glasses from Horton and Barboursville. As well as ultra cool toys: fanciful wands made of reclaimed wood dyed naturally, funky pull toys, and swords are on the way (my boys' eyes lit up).

Betty hopes to join the famer's market in the non-profit area with the help of volunteers (inquire at betty@betterworldbetty.org).

See you there,
BWB

Earth Craft Home Tours begin...

2009-05-23T06:12:00.000-07:00

I posted this graphic compliments of the Vermont Green Building Network: www.vgbn.org/guide.php to inspire your thinking around green building and housing becuase today and tomorrow you have a chance to see hands-on examples of green building elements at Charlottesville's Earthcraft Home Tour 2009 which began yesterday May 22 and runs through tomorrow. Details at www.blueridgeearthcrafttour.org The tour includes homes that are in the stages of construction so you can see up close and personal techniques and materials that help reduce energy use in your home.

The Department of Energy reports than single-family homes account for 80% of residential energy use - 47% of which goes to heating air, 17% water, 24% lighting. So whether you decide to build a home or renovate your existing home, keeping the
Earth in mind will reduce your carbon footprint, conserve natural resources, and over time save you money.

Kingma Developers and Barry Meade are two of 19 EarthCraft Homebuilders in the area, who are also listed in Betty's directory: www.betterworldbetty.org/directoryF.html#H

Real Estate Weekly magazine's article on the event cited a recent study which found that %70 of buyers are inclined to purchase a green home over a conventional home, which means in this market it's also a good investment if you plan on the future resale of your home.

As we've talked about in previous blogs, there are also tax benefits available for use of solar panels and geo-thermal units.

Best,
BWB

The side of Bruce Edmonds they don't write about in the papers...

2009-05-17T18:18:00.000-07:00

After Friday's Bruce and Betty show, we had a serious meeting in the 1061 the Corner parking lot regarding my next piece in the June Abode: Recycling Conundrums. As you can see.

One such recycling question mark was this piece of purple plastic packaging some flowers I received recently arrived in. You know that stuff that's not tissue paper and it's not plastic.

Bruce informed me that he not only knows all about recycling and household hazardous waste, but also FASHION. This purple landfill-bound sheet makes for the perfect Jackie-O fashion statement he volunteered. (Sorry, it's not recyclable)

Try it on, I say. Stunning. I wish I had some bubble wrap. That would have made a stylish accent poncho.

Don't quit your day job, Bruce!
Thank you for recycling at McIntire everyone.
Better World Betty

Discovery Museum - helping kids go green!

2009-05-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

My son had a playdate with one of his buds this week at the Discovery Museum, where we were enjoying all the great new additions and contemplating whether his energetic all-over-the-place energy could sustain focus for the Discovery Dash next weekend, when we spied a cool new green display, pictured above. With some cool tips for kids to go green. Besides encouraging recycling and water conservation and making a fun reusable tote bag, the poster also touts the importance of packing a zero-waste lunch. It's possible to forego the one-use, disposable items like drink pouches and single-use yogurt containers for the bigger bulk containers, which you can put into small glass, reusable containers. I like to use old sandwich loaf bags for storage as well as the biodegradable wax bags found out Whole Foods, Rebbeca's and Integral Yoga. Don't forget your cloth napkin. Now the only waste you have to worry about is the crusts your picky eaters still manage to leave behind. Take heart, bread crusts make great compost too!

Back to the Discovery Museum, for those of you who want to further encourage eco-friendly behavior in your kiddos, they are having a one-day going green camp on Memorial Day. I neglected to write down the details - but will post the event on Betty's calendar in the next few days. Or just call them directly at 434-977-1025 to get the details and/or sign up or go to their website: www.vadm.org.

Have a great weekend,
BWB

p.s. As long as we're talking kid stuff, I hope to see you at the Quetzal Kite Festival in Palmyra on Saturday. Nature's spring breeze plus creative colorful kites, make for a beautiful outdoor activity.

Betty's got a barrell!

2009-05-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

I'm singin' in the rain because last Sunday (May 3) I FINALLY took matters into my own hands and installed the rain barrel I've had sitting around for over a month my green friends. Completed SOLO I am proud to add.

The delay? Well that would just turn out to be a long list of really good excuses. But Sean Tubbs of Cville Tomorrow made me feel better today when he said, "I am seeing Betty everywhere." Ah-ha. That's why you haven't seen me installing my rain barrel.

Step one: I chose a strategic spot, the southeast corner of our home so that we don't have to use any county water this year for our veggie/flower garden. Instead we will use the collected rain fall.

Step two: I gathered/purchased all necessary supplies. It's not just the barrel you need but a connector piece, a flexible drain hose, a saw, a tightening ring (I'm quite sure these are NOT the official terms), cinderblocks to give it some height for easy access, and a piece of particle board or other wood platform. The cheapest place for the cinderblocks would be the Ivy MUC Landfill facility (tip from Brian Buckley - Thanks!), but I didn't want to consume all that gas to get there, so I bought mine along with the other stuff at Martin's Hardware (about 4 bucks each). I think everything together cost me 25 dollars.

There are handy-dandy products that attach neatly and snug, and if that's your preference it will cost anywhere from 20-50 dollars, at least when I looked. The only downside of rigging my own was that now I have a five foot section of drain hose that doesn't have a home (email me and I will give it to you FREE).

Step three: Saw off the gutter and then start attaching the parts. Set your barrel atop the platform, setting on the cinderblocks. You're set.

After just four days of rain last week, it's full! The garden is not exactly in full swing yet.

I will confess to you all right now I only DREAM of being an amazing gardener/green thumb. The only thing green about my thumb is I can use it along with the pointer finger of my right hand to write checks to better gardeners whose plants I purchase (only to kill them with improper watering or pretending the deer won't come eat them!). That or type articles to inspire others to use THEIR green thumb.

Happy harvesting!
BWB

Nature gives...

2009-05-08T04:56:00.000-07:00

I had the unique pleasure of spending last weekend at the Gaia Women's Gathering in the hills of Albemarle County. Eighty beautiful wise nature-loving women gathered to celebrate and share their expertise on a variety of topics including herbal medicines, hand crafts, respiratory wellness, diet, and permaculture. Deb Soule, organic gardener, founder of Avena Botanicals shared her love of plants and pollinators.

Local permaculture expert, Christine Gyovai, shared with us her process of creating a sustainable home, garden, and way of living. It was enough to make me want to set up camp in her backyard and eschew suburban living altogether. Take heart, if you live in the city or don't have loads of land. The beautiful and Betty-like theme of the class was start with what you have, simplify, and learn ways to work with Nature rather than against.

I was excited to learn more about "permaculture" - a term I have heard a lot about recently, but if you asked me I couldn't really tell you what it was. Now I can! Permaculture is a way of using the land that is modeled after the way forests, nature-made ecosystems naturally occur. Permaculture can teach you how to garden like a forest, where there are seven layers: underground, ground, shrubs, mid-canopy, full size, vines.

Permaculture encourages: 1- care of the Earth - (ways of renewing the Earth on a daily basis) 2- care of the people (building community through work parties for example) 3- share the surplus (incorporate giving so nothing goes to waste).

I'm not able to go into the detail (Christine whittled down a dozen hours of workshop time into this brief hour and a half introduction), so if you are interested here are Betty's suggestions for ways to get started:

* Attend one of the fabulous workshops given by the Blue Ridge Permaculture Network, which are listed on their website and on Betty's Events page

*Christine recommended these books:
Gaia's Garden, by Toby Hemingway
How to Grow More Vegetables by John Jearons
Edible Forest Gardening by Dave Jacke

*A lasagna garden is great way to start - I can vouch for this technique having used it in my own two box gardens.

1st layer: cardboard
2nd layer: some organic - manure or dirt or local Panorama Pay Dirt (available at Southern States)
3rd layer: newspaper sheets, but NOT the glossy ones
4th layer: more organics

Christine recommended letting it break down for a season, but last year I left out of the cardboard, instead I used dry leaves on the bottom layer and started gardening right away and (until the deer got to it) the garden was flourishing. Speaking of deer, this year I am going to use bamboo-staked fence with deer netting (my boxes are not that big) AND St. Gabriel Laboratories Deer Repellent spray - which is made locally (I got mine at Whole Foods) from all natural ingredients and therefore is safe for the fruits and veggies. I plan on being vigilant with the reapplication, especially after rain this year. Usually the deer chomp through our lily patch like it's some kind of salad bar, but with this spray we were able to enjoy the blooms last year.

Hope that inspires!
BWB

Update on my personal focus: home energy use

2009-04-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Now that the dust, I mean pollen, is settling from all the Earth Day blossoms and booths and buzz, I can return to myself, my family, my home and check in with this year's focus: energy use. A propos because Sunday night we headed upstairs to put the kids to bed and, whew, it was quite toasty. The thermostat registered 83 so I closed the windows and turned on the AC (to 74).

So I pulled out the calendar I made with my individual goals and I see that I am hopping my way around them, getting things accomplished here and there, making positive steps, but definitely more work ahead.

JAN: I still have one set of windows in the living room without drapes. I'm past the point of telling myself to do them with my amateur seamstress skills. Too busy with Betty, so I will order them. Unfortunately I haven't found any compelling eco-friendly options in Cville, so I will likely order them online, comparing pricing and, unless they are made of reused material, reach a un-perfect, but better solution than nothing at all.

FEB: Creative Conservation came out and gave me an estimate on insulation. To add 2-3 more inches would be close to 900 dollars. Bryant said as far as cost savings, he admitted that might be a hard one to justify right now. We decided to make use of savings in other areas: installing a programmable thermostat, changing out filters every THREE months, and keeping the temperatures low in winter (wearing sweaters) and high in the summer (running around naked, just kidding! wearing light clothing)

MAR: March was appliance and lighting. We already switched all the lights to CFLs, so each night I go around turning off anything that is drawing energy - computer, ihome player, etc. Did you know that appliances that are plugged in still draw energy (I've read as high as 40%) - phantom energy. Also this month, I ordered my rain barrel (On our drive home from my mom and dad's house in North Carolina I found a great company. It was started by a conservation-minded teenager! I talked to his mom and ordered this rain barrel - a recycled olive or pickle container).

APRIL: I am so behind (will spare you a detailed earth day/grant writing excuse)... still need to get the spout for the barrell and the cinder blocks. BEFORE THE NEXT RAIN!! It's OK because our garden isn't in yet and that's what we will be using the water for (and it was May's focus, so I still feel ahead of the game).

Looking ahead to May - I've picked out my retractable clothes line. I need to stop by the Eco-Shop on Preston to make sure they still have the one I want. In June the kids and I will track and try to reduce water use and July we'll look at energy use (i.e. how many times do I need to say: turn off the lights in the room when you aren't using them. Stay tuned for some funky-cool mom trick to turn this into a habit for your kids. Suggestions welcomed!!)

The idea is not for us to do these actions for a month and then forget about them. Research says that if you do something consistently for three weeks it becomes a habit. That's what we'll shoot for. And even though I'm a little behind on my goals, it's on my radar once again and posted on the fridge. Betty has her hand on my shoulder - "You'll get there," she says.

Reporting from BWB on Earth Day

2009-04-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

Earth Day 2009 from Betty's Point of View:

9:30am: After grabbing some of Gerry's (Albemarle Baking Company) cookies to pass out to recyclers, I dropped off some green recipes for the BWB booth at the Paramount theater (thanks to my volunteer, Ivana). Nice job Ryan Jacoby and everyone at Habitat AND all the great presenters in the Greenmatters Workshop Series for making such a positive impact in our community. What an educational two years!

10am: I was so happy to pass out reusable bags and Betty stickers at the Recycling Facility from 10-noon today. Thank you everyone who came out. Including two bicyclers! I ended up with a cool vase for flowers - a lady I met who just moved out from California was about to recycle a funky wine bottle

11am: We talked reducing driving and turning off lights and engines down at the McIntire Recycling Facility today with our live broadcast with 1061 the Corner. Bruce, the Recycling Manager and Brad, station manager, and I chose some cool Earth-themed songs: Jack Johnson, Joni Mitchell, OMD (Electricity). I was ready to commandeer the air waves with John Denver (Rocky Mountain High) and Marvin Gaye (Mercy Mercy -ecology) and Michael Jackson (can you feel it?) and more, but that wil have to wait until I can get a spot on My Corner Playlist again. (Maybe on Mother's Day- go mom activists of the world!)

12noon: Time to head over to UVA, where Lindsay Daniels and Sonny Beale and the Sustainability Committee over there have made dramatic changes in favor of reducing, reusing, recycling and helping students live lighter on the planet. Stay tuned to hear more about Chuck it for Charity, coming up in May (during student move out). I was pretty appalled by the items they found in the dumpster: perfectly good socks, a straw basket, a shelf unit, two apples, the list goes on. And the dumpster (which came from the dorms) was only half full. Opportunities to educate and facilitate abound. :-)

2pm: Mother Nature is speaking load and clear. Please listen, she is saying. Warm, sunny, and then cold and rainy, even reports of hail and in the mountain possible snow. This is what "climate change" means.

3pm: Able to recharge through meditation before the school bus came home.

5pm: Greenmatters Workshop Reception. Thanks Revolutionary Soup for the yummy dinner! I enjoyed talking with Doug Lowe of Artisan and Laura Smith a conservationist/realtor, Jeff Sties, local architect and my board member Charles Hendricks, who is now in Harrisonburg. Good stuff going on!

6pm: The kids and I wish happy birthday to Toan at Cville Coffee and, since it's took cold for playing at the newly renovated Riverview Park, decide to take old t-shirts and some cool iron-ons I found at a used book store in Richmond and make some Earth Day t-shirts! My five-year-old is holding one up there.

8pm: We are exhausted. Bedtime arrives for me and my two boys.

I hope you found a way to personally connect with the Earth today as well as tap all that our community is doing, working together to help make Cville the greener, healthier sustainable city we all want!!

Best,
BWB

Gorgeous planet, gorgeous people

2009-04-20T19:01:00.000-07:00

Check out Betty's FB photos from the event on Sat:

Thank you all for coming out to Saturday's Eco-Fair, Charlotteville's biggest turnout EVER for Earth Day!

Highlights and Gratitude:

Mark Jones telling me that Betty helped bring him 5 people to his last mushroom workshop!

Meeting a young green activist, Hannah, who is going to email me what she is up to, earth-wise, so I can put her on the "Green Scene" page.

Eric Betthauser, my beautifully helpful and enthusiastic volunteer, who stayed ALL DAY and helped me pack up too.

David Galgano telling me he uses the site all the time and will HAPPILY write a testimonial for me!

Howell buying me some cold cider.
Paige giving me some monster sun block.
Megan, my babysitter doing the dishes at home!
David Slutzky, for offering to sit down and discuss future BWB projects

Buzzing by Tim Reynolds and Trees on Fire to throw Betty t-shirts to the crowd. That was my first stage performance: 20 seconds with a microphone in front of hundreds. YIKES!!

I'm still floating from all that good Earth energy.
XOXO
BWB

Charlottesville's Reusable Bag Campaign Kicks Off Today

2009-04-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce Charlottesville's Reusable Bag Campaign officially kicked off today in front of City Hall with an announcement by the Mayor, words by yours truly, as well as Chris Engel of Shop Local and Kristel Ridderworld, City Environmental Compliance Manager, and Cynthia Shroeder owner of Springstreet.

Come to one of our booths during Saturday's Eco-Fair to grab your free bag made from recycled plastic!

Did you know?
- Americans consume 380 billion plastic bags per year
- We don't now exactly if these pesky, petroleum-based, annnoyances ever degrade
- Millions make their way into trees, streams, rivers and ocean as litter

I.E. Let's ditch the plastic bag habit!!

HOW?
- Pledge to yourself and others to use your own bags from now on!
- Keep a basketful of your bags in the car, within eye sight
- Make it easy - hang them on the door you frequently exit from or use a bag as your purse
- Congratulate yourself because in a few short weeks, this will become habit!

WHO?
These are businesses are participating by offering a rebate at the register:

All Good Groceries
Bittersweet
Blue Ridge Eco Shop
Blue Ridge Mountain Sports
Giant
Harris Teeter
Integral Yoga
Natalie Dressed
Nature's Child
Springstreet
Twice is Nice
Whole Foods

So thank these businesses for joining this effort with a small incentive and encourage others to join!

For more info or to add a new participating business, email: greencity@charlottesville.org or Betty and we will add them to the list!

Best,
BWB

As The Better World Turns...

2009-04-13T13:00:00.001-07:00

As the Better World Turns, I'm getting dizzy! Charlottesville's Eco-Fair is just around the corner and I can hardly wait. I'll be there along with loads of other environmental organizations and businesses and local officials and amazing local musicians: Trees on Fire (Guys: Can I have another Trees hat?? The Better World Beagle, Mugsy, ate the visor on the one I won at the Treehugger's Ball)and Adrienne Young (my Nia-dancing fellow goddess). Check www.earthweek.org for more details.

Just to give you bloggers a sneak preview: Betty is busy cooking up a funky cool t-shirt to celebrate a successful year of green-consciousness-raising (presale suggested donation: 10 bucks!), as well as more green recipes for you and your busy lifestyle.

Also the Thursday Betty and Shop Local and the City of Charlottesville will announce our reusable bag campaign with a press conference at 11am in front of City Hall.

We'll talk about more Earth Day details this Friday morning with the Bruce and Betty show at 8:45ish on 1061 the Corner with Brad Savage in the studio.

Once again I need your help choosing the hippest Earth songs so that we can spin the vinyl out at the McIntire Road Recycling Facility on Earth Day!

More buzzin' later, now it's time to work in my kitchen WITHOUT my computer for a few minutes!

Cheers,
BWB

Reasons to ditch your plastic bags and bottles

2009-04-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

This is a summary of what we talked about this morning on the Bruce and Betty show on 1061 the Corner!

PLASTICS:
Plastic has done amazing things for us in medicine and food storage, BUT it's also made of a non-renewable resource: oil! It pollutes when we make it, and it won't biodegrade (it takes hundred of years to go away?! yikes). And new information continues to come out about the leaching of plasticizers and BPA (Bisphenol-A) through high heat and freezing. 'Nuff said.

WHY DITCH THE WATER BOTTLE?

Strike One: Currently 1.5 million barrels of oil - enough to run 100,000 cars for a whole year is being used to make plastic water bottles!

Strike Two: Not to mention the emissions involved in the manufacturing and transportation of these bottles (aka embedded energy).

Strike Three: Tap water has stricter quality standards and MOST BOTTLES are never recycled.

More Strikes: One account says that bottled water costs $5.76 gallon!

SOLUTION?
Bring your own bottle - PBA-free plastic (1 or 2) OR your aluminum or glass bottle for reuse

Use a water filter like Pur or Brita

PLASTIC BAGS
We go through 380 billion bags per year!! Only 6% are recycled and the rest are trashed, but as many of us know these bags turn up as "urban tumbleweed." I always cringed to look up at one of our beautiful Virginia trees to see a plastic bag ornament or worse a bag floating down the Rivanna or turning into food for fish in the ocean. 'Nuff said.

HOW CAN I REMEMBER TO USE MY BAG?
1- Right now, make a pledge to use your bags. Tell people this is what you're doing. That way you will generate the committment and support you need to fulfill this promise.
2- Stash them in the front seat of your car. (You'll forget them in your trunk, right?)
3- Hang them on the garage door or front door.
4- Just think. In three weeks, it will be a habit.
5- Come to Eco-Fair on April 18th at the Downtown Pavilion and get a Shop Local/City of Charlottesville and Better World Betty bag as part of our big reusable bag campaign kickoff!

Cheers to less bags blowing in the breezes and the treezes,
BWB

Don't Forget Earth Hour 2009 Saturday Night!

2009-03-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

UVA, Charlottesville City, Albemarle County, and Better World Betty urge you to join millions of people across the world tonight in Earth Hour from 8:30pm-9:30pm by turning off ALL YOUR LIGHTS for an hour! As a family we plan on going around the house and unplugging ALL the outlets as well. Excellent life/ecology/energy lesson here by raising awareness about just how much we humans "take" and the importance of joining together as a human race to find a more sustainable symbiotic relationship with Mother Earth - the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil which gives trees, plants and thus sustenance.

FROM THE EARTH HOUR WEBSITE:
VOTE EARTH
YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE
This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

Enjoy!
BWB

I'll buy that for a dollar!!

2009-03-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed a fabulous lunch today at Bizou on the Downtown Mall with fellow mom and local dynamo Gwen Goodkin, who is responsible for bringing the first annual Unicef TAP project to Charlottesville! As you can imagine we hit it off famously and I'm pleased to announce she will be joining Betty as a volunteer after she takes a lull/break after the TAP project concludes on Saturday.

Last year Gwen personally decided to do whatever it would take to get this program to Charlottesville, after having bought a dollar for tap water at a Richmond's Kicker game! She attended training, gathered support of area restaurants and funders, publicized the event, and voila! So far, so good. One enthusiastic diner on Tuesday donated $100 to the project on the spot.

It's not too late to get out there tonight, tomorrow or Saturday and show your support of this project, whose aim is to provide clean water for the millions around the world who go everyday without clean drinking water. The added bonus is that the funds raised here in Charlottesville will 100% go to that effort and will be matched by the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation and given over to the Rivanna Conservation Society!

All you have to do is dine at one of the 25 participating restaurants and give them a dollar for your tap water that you would normally get for free.

I am personally inspired by this effort and it gives me lots of hope for some of Betty's future plans. This program started a mere three years ago in New York City with 300 restaurants participating. Last year it was in 16 major cities. This year it's happening all across the United States, including Charlottesville!

Gwen, thanks for raising our awareness and making a difference here and around the world.

RESTAURANTS: Aromas, Bang, Biltmore Grill, Bizou, Blue Moon Diner, Bluegrass Grill, Boar's Head Inn, Cassis, The College Inn, Downtown Grille, Duner's, Eppie's, The Flat, Fleurie, Horse and Hound, Hotcakes, Il Cane Pazzo, Petit Pois, Rapture, Revolutionary Soup, The Box, Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar, X Lounge, Zinc, and Zocalo!

If your favorite restaurant in Cville is not listed, be sure to inquire why they chose not to participate in this worthy cause. There's always next year!

Moms Rock!
BWB

www.tapproject.org

What's going on backstage, Betty?

2009-03-24T13:15:00.001-07:00

Ok.

So I would like to say I'm purposefully reducing my virtual carbon footprint created by excessive blogging which is why I haven't blogged in many, many days!

The truth is, the closer it gets to Earth Day, the more booked and busier I get! I am knee deep in grant-writing, web updating, sponsorship-seeking, kid raising, dinner-making. Where does blogging fit in anyway?

Before I make any more excuses, here is a pastiche of goings on...

I would love to share the advice I got from Bryant at Creative Conservation last week when he stopped by to check out if I could save some money and home energy use by having more insulation in the attic, which if you remember energy is our focus this year (short answer: we are doing well by keeping the thermostat at a consistent 61 degrees, and it would definitely help to add 2-4 more inches of cellulose insulation to the attic and above our master bedroom. But the existing fiberglass batting insulation does a decent job - there are much better options out there now - but changing probably wouldn't be the best use of funds).

I would love to share my thoughts on the recent recycling broohah hah (how do you spell that) - the lawsuit involving VanderLinde and RSWA, but I'm hoping that David McNair at the Hook will include my comments that yearn for a community collaboration among all interested stakeholders to make recycling in this town a total win-win for people and the planet.

I would love to include my big dreams for Betty's future which I am writing into proposals as we speak.

I would love to include my solo and much needed one day getaway to the consignment shops and used book stores of Carytown in Richmond - tonight's beet salad comes from my used recipe book find: The Balanced Plate by Renee Loux. Now do I dare wear the circa 1970 knit tank top I believe Cher once wore?!

I would love to include the green cleaning tips from Friday's Bruce and Betty show. Wait, I promised you that one. So here are a couple:

SURFACE CLEANER:
Make a past of baking soda, vinegar, salt and water for a great sink, counter, toilet, tub cleaner

DRAIN BUSTER:
Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of baking soda at the location of the drain (it will fizz up). Let sit for 15 minutes and flush with hot water.

ALL PURPOSE GLASS CLEANER:
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 tsp castile soap or mild detergent (phosphate free/chlorine free)
2 cups water
6 drops of lemon juice or essential oil like lavendar (optional)

I would love to share the design prints for the upcoming, limited edition organic cotton t-shirts to celebrate Betty's one year anniversary. But it's not ready yet. Be on the lookout y'all. Last year's picnic goers advice on the slogan is being heeded! :-)

And that's just four days worth of stuff!

Back to the messy kitchen...
BWB

Best Wishes from Betty!

2009-03-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that it has been a year and a half ago since I sat down at Mudhouse envisioning plans for an online community resource when I ran into Dave Norris. I had always admired his work in our community on behalf of the homeless, affordable housing, the environment, education, the list goes on and on. So I was a bit nervous to introduce myself and share my admiration and appreciation for him and his work. Of course Dave is so approachable, I think back on it and laugh.

In his typical humble fashion, we didn't talk too much about him. Instead he asked a simple question, "What are you doing, Teri Kent?" So I shared my vision for Betty with him and he listened. Not only did he listen, he encouraged me and inquired how he could help. At the time I had no website experience and little money to put behind the idea, but he put me in contact with people who could help me realize my vision. At the time his committee on sustainability was making lots of plans, one of which was a green city webpage. So we decided to collectively kick off the two websites last January - a celebration of collaboration and synergy in the name of a healthier sustainable community!

With his support, we continue to build partnerships with other groups in town. We meet at least once a month, so I can get caught up on all the green goings on at the city level and make sure he's getting more than a few hours of sleep at night doing great things for our city (I volunteered to head the Mayoral subcommittee on Rest and Relaxation - turns out part of the RandR plan included less subcommittees).

Thanks, Dave for being one of Betty's first friends in town and such an integral part of her success!

So it is with great pleasure that I invite any friend of Betty to be a friend of
Dave and attend the campaign kick-off party this Thursday the 12th from 7-9pm at South Street Brewery to recruit volunteers and supporters for his re-election campaign. I plan on bringing the whole fam damily!

In his words:
"We have made some good progress in my time on Council, though, and I have too many 'irons in the fire' and initiatives under development to give up now. Accordingly, I have decided to take the plunge and today am announcing my candidacy for another term on City Council.

One last thing. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate asking for money. But we do need some funds to help cover the modest expenses we expect to incur in the months ahead. Virginia law allows for unlimited donations to local candidates, but I detest the corrupting role that money plays in politics so I have imposed a voluntary limit of $500 per donor. Even if you can only give a fraction of that, though, please consider doing so. Checks can be made out to "Dave Norris for City Council" and mailed to 1409 Early St., Charlottesville, VA 22902, or go to his blog for details."

See you all there!
BWB

World Water Week is coming: make change for a dollar!

2009-03-09T18:11:00.000-07:00

Did you know that 900 million people worldwide do NOT have access to clean water?

That's why Charlottesville will join cities around the country participating in UNICEF's Tap Project this year.

During the week of March 22-28, restaurants will offer Charlottesville diners the chance to pay $1 for their glass of drinking water. Funds raised will go to UNICEF's efforts in water starved nations around the world and will be matched to fund local clean water projects in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area.

The Tap Project will involve numerous restaurants around town, including:

Aroma's, Biltmore Grill, Hotcakes, Revolutionary Soup, Blue Moon Diner, Gluegrass Grill, The X Lounge, Zocalo, Eppie's, Zinc, The Flat, Rapture, Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar, Bizou, Downtown Grille, Gang, Cassis, Fleurie, Petit Pois, Il Cane Pazzo, College Inn and MORE!!

Take part in this important event that has been brought here locally by Gwen Goodkin. I'll be interviewing her in the coming days to bring you more details and Monday, March 22nd a la Betty's Blog I will remind all you Bettys and Baldwins to get out to your favorite local restaurants, pay a dollar for your tap water, and make a difference!

Best,
BWB

Betty called -- She needs your help in the kitchen!

2009-03-04T18:59:00.000-08:00

Better World Betty's long-awaited survey is waiting to be taken BY YOU! Come on... A few extra minutes on the computer to help the PLANET will feel good right about now.

Currently Better World Betty is the number one resource for all your green needs in Charlottesville. But this is just the first generation Betty. We want to know what's working and what's not so that Betty can be a true community-driven resource to meet all your green goals!

The recipe:

You provide the ingredients/information which will help Betty reach her main mission: helping to make Charlottesville the healthier, sustainable, eco-conscious community we all envision.

We collect it and mix in a little creativity and innovation.

Stir in lots of business sponsorships and grant funds and private donations hint hint.

Bake (we don't know how long just yet)

And VOILA! Out pops an even Better Better World Betty. That's a mouthful.

Sounds good, right? So let's get started!

Please take a few minutes... It's your green action for the day!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=KMVsUU22EDtB_2bD_2fa7EsNTw_3d_3d. Your privacy is important to us, so your responses are entirely anonymous.

Thanks everyone!
BWB

The Bruce and Betty show airs tomorrow am on 1061 the Corner

2009-02-19T14:46:00.000-08:00

O.K. so "Show" is a strong word. But I am excited this opportunity to further Betty's mission to support your current efforts to go green and hopefully offer some new tips.

This 10 minute interview will be airing tomorrow morning at 8:45ish. This is a part of a rotating interview segment (Adrienne Young, local singer/songwriter and creator of "Backyard Revolution will be heard every other Friday) which will help further green consciousness in our community.

I will be sharing the mike with Bruce Edmonds of the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority, whom you may have heard me talk about as Betty's go-to recycling guru for answers from BWB followers when she doesn't have the slightest idea (recent example: I didn't know the Ivy MUC facility takes accepts old sinks and sells them). Don't let his gruff voice fool you. He cares about his work. (Why else would he hang out at Crutchfield's recycling event from dawn until dusk!) He's been in the recycling biz for over 20 years and really knows his stuff and he's been a big fan of Betty from the beginning.

I hope it's fun and helpful. Either way with the two of us (pretty opposite at first glance anyway, it's sure to be interesting!

Catch us on the air tomorrow morning at 8:45ish.

BWB

Home Energy 101 at CCDC

2009-02-16T05:32:00.000-08:00

What better way to refine and BETTER my twelve-month home energy efficiency plan than by getting inspired with a community workshop given by one of my favorite people, Eric Gilchrist, the program coordinator for SPARK!! Which if you haven't heard of by now, you really are living in the dark, so to speak. SPARK! is the Charlottesville Community Design Center's initiative to help our community reduce its collective carbon footprint, increase our energy efficiency, and save some money while saving the planet!

Last week's Home Energy 101 was a wonderful primer on how to save energy and money in your home. 43% of regional carbon emissions is coming from residences. That's right. Me and you in our homes. The average person contributes 24tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere/per year/per person.

Heating and Cooling accounts for 49% of that.

So Eric recommends first you
1) collect utility bills - create a personal baseline to see how you are doing
2) Figure out your area of conditioned space
3) Plan some strategies - whether hiring a home auditor (check out under "H" for home in the Betty directory) or using a DIY version at Energy.gov

Now implementing some change:
*Fink the leaks and seal them tight! (around vents, windows, plumbing, fireplaces - be careful with the latter)
*Maintain - replace filters every 3 months!
*Increase insulation in attics, around your water heater! (We talked about the pros and cons of fiberglass, cellulose, denim. Ask an insulation expert, but I think we'll opt for a 12" thickness of cellulose)
*Install a programmable thermostat (My husband and I go back and forth on this one - he contends lowering and raising the thermostat takes more energy than keeping it at a consistent low temperature - we have it set at 60-62 in the winter. The choose will be made by June on my 12-month step-by-step plan) In the city, you can get up to $100 rebate!
*Replace old inefficient appliances with Energy Star appliances
*Do the little things - use CFLs, don't blow dry your hair every day of the week. Turn down the water heather thermostat to 120F degrees or the lowest setting
*Take advantage of a free water saving kit from the City or the County

Go by CCDC today and get their list of top 10 energy saving renovations and tips and start acting today! Also, check the Better World Betty events page to see when the next workshop is being held. This Wednesday at 6pm will be Home Energy Saving for Renters at CCDC.

Thanks Spark!
BWB

Two Betty-licious Moms Recycle Old Sweaters Into Onesies

2009-02-12T19:21:00.000-08:00

These onesies are so cool and cute, you have to see them in person!

Two local Charlottesville moms just opened their own business of reusing/recycling old sweaters into onesies. Bring your old sweaters to them, or they'll find the sweaters themselves and ...Presto, Changeo... your baby is green with something other than old spit up. How can you tell? The cute green apple that is carefully stitched on.

You can now find Restitched and Recycled in the Betty business directory under "Clothing."

Way to go, Moms!
BWB

Betty's FB Debut

2009-02-09T17:55:00.000-08:00

You have been asking for months, "Betty, why aren't you on Facebook?!"

Well, I am happy to announce as of today, Betty is on FB. Betty has taken the plunge into the collective sea of online social networking feet first, with apron attached. She doesn't know how much time away from the Earth kitchen she can spend on this time-intensive pastime (you know there is a lot of work to do, greenies), but here's to the endeavor.

Bring on the fans, bring on the friends, bring on the change and click to greener consciousness, I say!

We'll post upcoming Betty events, tv/radio/online appearances, photos, etc. on the FB page, and any additional Betty scoop. For now, think of it as more "Behind the Scenes" Betty as we contemplate ways FB can help us reach our mission: helping people go green on a day-to-day basis here in the Charlottesville area!

Hopefully the FB presence will 1) bring more awareness to Betty and the tools she offers for you at her website, tools to connect you to concrete ways of "acting local" 2) allow those interested in learning more about what Betty's cooking up in her Earth kitchen, a chance to do so (example: our mission statement you'll find in the Notes, which is too lengthy for our monthly newsletter) 3) keep Betty fresh, interesting, inspiring, and fun as you travel on your green path.

So check out Betty on Facebook

Best,
BWB

Energy Savings... there's help on the way!

2009-02-05T13:21:00.001-08:00

Betty has plans to incorporate a LOCAL ACTION section on the website to connect you specifically to state and federal legislation that can help you in your efforts to live more sustainably. Because who has time to keep up with all the policies, incentive programs, new tax credits, and local initiatives?

Until then Betty we'll blog about it...

Energy is front and center right now, especially since the cap rates on electricity are about to expire. Electricity in Virginia may go up as much as 18%. So it behooves all of us to conserve our energy in whatever way we can.

Which is why I hope to see you next week at the Community Design Center for another helpful workshop on energy efficiency from Spark! Energy Saving 101, Tuesday, February 10 at 6pm. Check the Betty events page for more details.

Also, here is some helpful info on Federal Tax Credits (Thanks to Better World Betty Board Member, P. Paxton Marshall, Professor, Charles L. Brown Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,University of Virginia)

Federal Tax Credits Return for Efficiency Improvements to Homes
As you're ringing in the New Year, it might be a good time to search your home for air leaks, insufficient insulation, or heating and cooling equipment that needs updating.

That's because the start of 2009 has also revived the federal tax credits for energy efficiency improvements to homes. Although the original tax credit expired at the end of 2007, it was revived this year as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which President Bush signed back in October 2008.

As noted by the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), federal tax credits are now available for 10% of the cost of insulation, storm doors, and Energy Star-qualified "cool roofs," up to a limit of $500; for 10% of the cost of exterior windows and skylights, up to a limit of $200; for up to $300 on new high-efficiency air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters, and corn-fueled stoves; and for up to $150 on high-efficiency furnaces and boilers. Those tax credits expire at the end of this year, but there's also a tax credit for 30% of the cost of Energy Star-qualified geothermal heat pumps, up to a limit of $2,000, and that doesn't expire until 2016. For details, see the ASE press release and tax credit Web page here

As noted by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act also extended a federal tax credit for 30% of the cost of both residential and commercial solar energy installations, while eliminating a $2,000 cap on the tax credit for residential solar electric installations. The law also established a tax credit for 30% of the cost of residential wind energy systems, fuel cells, and microturbines, with different caps on each type of system, and all of these clean energy tax credits are good through 2016. According to SEIA, the solar investment tax credit provisions will also allow filers of the Alternative Minimum Tax to still take the tax credit, although anyone planning to file for a tax credit should first seek the advice of a tax professional. See the SEIA press release and a summary of all the federal tax credits on the Energy Star Web site
here.

Hope that helps!
BWB

Nice Betty Makeover, Rich!

2009-02-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

The Betty in me is feeling the love today!

I don't normally delve into the details of my love-life (you're welcome), but I've got cause for celebration.

My husband/professor/scientist/expert in the field of car safety design and biomechanics just gave his transportation choice a complete Betty makeover!

Unbeknownst to me, he polled his UVA Biomechanics class last week whether he should keep his Nissan Infiniti M45 Sports Edition or trade it in for a lower emissions, ultra fuel-efficient, "sensible" VW Jetta. Of course they all voted for the Infiniti, to which he replied, "Don't you guys know - My wife is Better World Betty!"

So he came in glowing last night, inviting me to come out to the driveway to see that he is now... ta da! Betty-compliant!

He weighed all the options (bike - we live in the County, hydrogen - the infrastructure in not there yet, hybrid - the Jetta has the price beat and the emissions, fuel-efficiency comparable)

A candy-white Jetta TDI Clean Diesel, VW's Green Car of the Year, sits in our driveway to replace the gas-guzzling, sporty number he had yesterday!

From the literature, the 2009 Jetta TDI is matching the fuel efficiency of the Toyota Prius (without the limited-battery-life issue), getting upwards of 50 mph on the highway.

And diesels are not what they use to be, air-breathing lovers. The Advanced Lean Burn Technology reburns particulates resulting in virtually no particulate emissions. The TDI Jetta meets the upgraded, stringent California emission standards.

Popular Mechanics had this to say: "...The Jetta will be using emission-cleansing technologies developed under the cooperative formed by Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen to make it 50-state legal...One of the biggest environmental hurdles facing diesels, along with particulate matter—by injecting a urea-based solution into the exhaust system upstream from the catalytic converter, where NOx is then converted into nitrogen and water. The Jetta will instead use a NOx-storage catalyst, which is basically a reservoir that temporarily holds the noxious emissions, like a particulate filter, until they can be burned off during one of the engine cycles."

And an ultra-cool bonus: we are eligible for a $1,300 tax credit! Which may help with the extra we'll be paying at the pump.

So if you see a handsome biomechanics engineer zipping around in his clean diesel Jetta, give him the thumbs up. What a Better World Baldwin!

BWB

Here's my recycling strategy. What's yours?

2009-02-03T16:07:00.000-08:00

This article appears in this month's issue of Abode magazine. Check it out in the stands or at www.c-ville.com.

I want to share some personal home strategies for recycling with you this month. Without an efficient and easy system in place, you may be tempted to “just toss it.” A better answer is to responsibly reallocate all the stuff we humans accumulate daily and thus close the loop.

Reyclables
I confess it took me over a year to figure out a decent home recycling strategy when I moved to Albemarle (unless you call piling the recyclables like an artist’s depiction of the Eiffel tower a strategy). Now I have six sturdy, space-saving, stackable plastic bins. Fortunately, we have a garage; but you really only need the width of one bin, 24", and a high ceiling. If you are feeling extra Betty-like, you could take your bins to swim meets or any event where recycling isn’t currently offered. We’re human, which means we don’t walk the recyclables out to the bins every time, so we have a large canvas basket on the kitchen counter for a once-a-day trip.

Compost
We made our compost strategy contained and simple with the purchase of a large outdoor compost tumbler. In the kitchen, I hung a Simple Human container on my pantry door. We toss food waste into 3-gallon biodegradable bags, which can then be transported into the tumbler. An oversized glass cookie jar also works. Container strategies abound, but make sure it’s sealable and easily accessible.

Donate or fix it
I dedicate a closet or attic corner to items for donation. Three or four times a year, we do the recycling circuit—giving away clothing, old electronics, and toys. I’m still waiting for Charlottesville to open a cute small-appliance repair shop like my hometown had. Until then, a box in the garage is dedicated to items that need fixing, like shoe soles and belts. Finally, if I don’t know where to take it, I go to betterworldbetty.org’s recycle search tool.

Now that I've shared my strategy, what's yours?

BWB

E-cycle Mania in Cville's Rio Hill Parking Lot!

2009-01-31T12:18:00.000-08:00

Betty brings you coverage of an amazing event held today, January 31, from 9-3pm in the parking lot of Crutchfield. Papa Johns, UVA, the city, the county, CCDC, RSWA, Crutchfield, (who am I forgetting), Z95 and 1061 the Corner, Betty - everyone came out to help this event be a tremendous success. Bruce Edmonds of RSWA, Teri Kent of Better World Betty, along with UVA recycling crew and the Crutchfield crew are shown. Thanks to everyone's hard work today! Today, you brought it and we hauled it into boxes, onto pallets to be be shrink-wrapped and placed into the trailers!

It feels a little strange to call this a "success" when gazing out at the sea of electronics piled one upon the other 3 feet high and yards and yards long, an entire trailer-tractor truck filled, the other half-filled (with still three hours to go!), and computers, monitors, cartridges, keyboards, batteries, old phones, vcrs as far as the eye could see. Idling cars backed up all the way onto Rt. 29. Were they being sent off to the land of Forgotten Electronics? Were they going to a charity (one man asked me)? (I sent him to Betty's website where he will find the phone and location of Computers4kids to see if they would accept his comupter)

But success it was!

I don't know the numbers yet, but two tractor-trailers hauling over 400 tons each were not going to be adequate is what I overheard from the crew.

Recycling old electronics for reuse, repair, refurbishing and proper disposal is the absolute right thing to do, so thanks to everyone who came out! Pat yourself on the back because you ensured that hazardous waste and materials used in electronics (the list is long and varied: cadmium, lead, mercury, flame retardants, PCB, PVC, glues) will go to its proper burial place or find new life.

Crutchfield and their recycling provider will drive the e-tons (Can't wait to get the numbers on this one) to New Jersey to be refurbished, repaired, or dismantled for reuse, and the rest; well, this Betty doesn't want to think about that one. It was amazing to see all that waste in one place. "Incredible," said one. "Look at all these humans doing the right thing!" said another.

Humans consume, that's a fact. We like our electronics, that's a fact. For me it keeps me connected to you. But I believe we also feel good when we clean up a mess and do that right thing. That's what today was about.

For more information on e-cycling check:
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/index.htm

Remember, if you don't know where to take something, try Betty's Recycling, Reducing, Reusing Search Tool. (I had a hard time loading old printer cartridges into bins almost as tall as I am knowing that most area schools (and Virginia Organizing Project) accept them and redeems them for MONEY which goes back to the schools.