Twice is Nice, Three Times Even Better

My two boys and I dropped off the clothing donations from Betty's picnic to Twice is Nice thrift shop this week on Preston Avenue.

If you don't know about this shop, I highly recommend stopping in. Carolyn Ettinger just spent the last few months spiffing it up - cleaning, reorganizing, and adding to the space. My boys and I were delighted to find one cowboy/snap-on shirt (think Lyle Lovett), jet-fighter pj's (my youngest had to leave the store in them), a long-sleeve "dog" shirt (NWT), and another fall shirt, all in great shape for: 15 dollars! How is that for a back-to-school bargain.

Twice is nice because the store helps your pocketbook and that of a stellar, community non-profit JABA (Jefferson Area Board of Aging). Quoting from their website: "Our mission is to promote, establish and preserve sustainable communities for healthy aging that benefit individuals and families of all ages."

Betty loves it three times because shopping here, rather than popular stores like Old Navy and Gap, help the planet by reducing consumption through conserving natural resources and reusing goods.

Best,
BWB

Cville's Best New Local Website: Betty, of course!

OK. So that's not a category in Cville Weekly's Best, but if it were* wouldn't you vote for Betty?

Who helps you find local green builders/architects/gardeners for your renovations or new projects?
Who helps you find a new home for your couch or computer?
Who gives you the inside scoop on the best consignment shops in the 'ville?
Who tells you about environmental events in and around town?
Who connects you to local organizations that are working for the better, greener world we all want to see?
Who is working in the Earth kitchen cooking up more ways to make green living easier for you?
And who loves you no matter where you are on the path towards greenness?

Who's got your back when it comes to green?

Bottom line. Betty does.
BWB

*note to self: bend Frank's ear re: new Cville Best category!

Look for the lessons, learn and let it go

Years ago I cut this out of a magazine and today as I was feng-shuing the cluttered refrigerator (and even the piles on top) I found these words that continue to inspire.

They are from a woman in Illinois named Jody about the most important thing she was taught growing up: "My father showed me - with true strength, courage, and integrity - the importance of letting go of past pain and regret. Whatever struggles I faced, he taught me that hanging on to resentment, guilt, grudges, or any negative emotion is destructive to body, mind and spirit. Most important, it consumes energy better spent on living. Dad's message: "Look for the lessons, learn, and let it go."

I think those of us who find ourselves beating ourselves up over our most recent environmental infraction -- forgetting to bring my to-go silverware, driving an extra 10 miles to take my exercise class from Susan, because I love her so much! forgetting to turn off the computer overnight, wondering if I should ditch my compact van for the new Honday fcxClarity, noticing that I hastily bought organic applease on the way home from work, but forgot to read the fine print about coming from South America! -- need to remember those words.

Betty values all those changes that make a difference, it's true, but she also values forgiveness and acceptance when it comes to healing the planet. Look for the lessons, learn, do better next time, and let go. It's not about being Perfect World Pollyannas. Perfection is the enemy of good (thank you, Rich, for reminding me of that one sometimes). Betty is about being and doing better. Are you doing something today that you didn't do yesterday?

Step by step. That's what will make a better world.

BWB

Fall Collections announced!

I'm not talking about the latest fall fashions, my green friends, I am talking about the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority's fall line-up for special collections of hazardous and bulky waste at the Ivy Muck (Material Utilization Center).

Sept 19: small-business hazardous waste (pre-register and pay a fee)
Sept 20: household hazardous waste like paint, chemicals like pesticides, liquid flammables, hazardous cleaning chemicals, etc.
Sept 27: furniture and mattresses (this should be your last resort, of course, after surfing Betty's hard-to-recycle-item tool to see if you can find a good home locally)
Oct 4: appliances (I was sad to find a few appliances dumped near the Rivanna River in the County recently - please dispose of these properly)
Oct 11: tires (On the same trip I counted 16 tires on a recent 5 mile stretch of the Rivanna - the next Betty green team event might be a river cleanup!)

The city and the county are also sponsoring "amnesty days" for residents to dispose of bulky items at no cost. (more to come on that)

This event is for Charlottesville city and Albemarle County residents and will be posted on the Betty events page very soon! There is a 25 gallon limit

Bruce Edmonds at 434-906-0763 can answer any questions concerning HHW.

Rid your life of bulky, bad schtuff this fall!
Best,
BWB

Hold on to your drink pouches!

For those of you who attended the successful Betty picnic, you know we were striving for "zero waste," which means I still have the kids' juice pouches that were graciously donated by the folks at Rebecca's Natural Foods at Barracks Road Shopping! The organics and compostable flatware are stewing nicely in my compost bin, the plastics have been recycled, the cardboard is in my trunk. But the juice pouches sit staring at me from my kitchen counter!

The company, ironically named Back to Nature, it seems turns its back on nature as far as the packaging of their all-natural juice is concerned.

I just got off the phone with John at Back to Nature in Madison, Wisconsin and unfortunately he was no help as to an alternative to the landfill. I refuse to toss these pouches! I told them kindly that their competition Honest Kids and Capri Sun has recently teamed up with Terracycle who facilitates a process whereby you can send away for a collection bag and then you can save all your juice boxes and they will gladly and fashionably transform your pouch trash into a reusable bag or pencil holder or other nifty container.

This was news to John.

I told him to please pass it on to the execs: a little advice compliments of Better World Betty down here in Charlottesville.

Ideally we as parents and teachers and kids will just say no to single use items like drink boxes and juice pouches and pour kids juice at home into their reusable water bottles or even better forget the juice altogether in favor of crystal, clear, filtered tap water.

However, let me be the first to admit that when we are at the snack bar after mom's workout or meeting Dad for lunch at the nearest, healthiest, quickest chain (Panera for example) and the kids are thirsty they get a milk carton that I have to cart home to recycle or if it's Horizon Organic which is a tetra-pak it's non-recyclable (tetra-pak recycling is not widespread in the US - which is why I opt for alumnimum cans for broths, when I don't make my own :-)).

So whether you have chosen to eliminate single use drinks for your kids (juice boxes being the biggest non-recyclable offender, and juice packets coming in at a close second) other than for those special occasions that make a single drink convenient (I'm thinking of campouts and, yes, picnics), take heart in two options:

1)The "drink pouch brigade": Terracycle's program with Capri Sun and Honest Kids (www.terracycle.net/dpb/dpb.htm) which as I've said could transform your trash into a treasure

2)Or here's a cool d.i.y. option for you crafty, creative greenies. Get out the sewing machine (I wonder if heavy duty staples work?) and make your own reusable bag at www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Capri-Sun-Purse Looks like that's what the kids and I will be doing for our summer craft activity tomorrow.

3)You can always go full-on green by carting your trusty Sigg or other PBA-free water bottle around filled with your favorite local concoction!

In-joy
BWB

p.s. Glad to be back in the blogosphere more regularly after a summer of family visits, playing full-time mommy, a trip West, relaxing and breathing in the sunny weather!

Thank you, picnic goers!

Mother Nature served up a beautiful breeze and cooler temperatures for the first annual Betty Picnic in the Park on Sunday! The event was a success: everyone enjoyed good company, good local food, fun games, and a great acoustic show from Trees on Fire. Below are some of the highlights (with photos to follow - my apologies - family has called me to our neighboring state of North Carolina):

*Trash bowling (using recycled aluminum cans) was a hit with the kids and even some adults!
*My friends Cora and Eemahni stayed until long after 4pm painting kids' faces. Thank you.
*The scavenger hunt was fun and challenging, which means the trails were pleasantly clean. No complaints there. Winners got to reach in the "new to you" toy grab bag, enjoy a homemade cookie and received a complimentary reusable Betty bag.
*Rob and Blake from Trees on Fire graced us with sublime duets and solos, including the birds and the bees, for over an hour. Loved that!
*I enjoyed talking to Ryan, James, Adrienne, and Brad about the pros and cons of bioplastics, creative reuse tricks, and future plans for Betty (as she continues to be your go-to-gal for all things green in Cville)
*Channel 19 arrived to chronicle the event and broadcast it on the evening and morning news! (fyi: I need work on my interviewing skills)
*The event was very close to no waste: I believe the only thing we had to throw away were the lined chip bags and the latex gloves used for the hunt.
*We exchanged hundreds of books and CDs
*Enough money was raised for small expansions to the site due out this fall!

I appreciate all the love and support from friends, family, community members, and businesses: Rebecca's, Blue Ridge Eco-shop, EcoDrycleaners, Albemarle Baking Company, 1061 the Corner. Thank you Kelly, my faithful volunteer extraordinaire, and Eric, who stayed with me to clean up, and Anna and my husband (thanks for the generous donations!), and Adrienne for moral support. Matt Holmes from Channel 19 asked me how I measure success? Besides the new visitors Betty is receiving each week, it's the encouragement and support I received from everyone who attended this event, who went out of their way to give positive feedback or a new idea.

With gratitude,
BWB

Picnic Time is Near!

I hope you are planning on attending tomorrow's big Picnic in the Park! Don't forget to bring you gently used CDs and books to swap and clothing to donate. I want to give you Betty Blog fans the inside scoop:

(Suggested donation for this event is $5/person or $10/family which includes all the activities/light food. Funds will help Betty's ongoing work as your number one resource for greener living: keeping you informed via email and the newsletter about local green businesses, tips, and events).

2pm:
*Food: You can look forward to Tim Henley's yummy peaches, other local fruits, salads, snacks from Rebecca's Natural Foods, and Virginia wine (limited supply). Ice water will flow freely!
*Facepainting
*Trash Toss and Bowling
*Art: we'll be making windsocks, newspaper hats, origami all from recycled materials (including scrap paper from a local printing shop and recycled ribbons)

Participants in all the games will receive one "new to you" toy from the grab box and a homemade cookie.

3pm:
*Kids' Scavenger Hunt (winners will receive a Betty bag!)
*Nature Walk
*Beach Volleyball, perhaps?

4pm:
TREES ON FIRE performs!
Dance, listen, chill, celebrate

Note: We are striving for zero-waste at the picnic, so bring your reusuable beverage bottle! Recycling will be available.

See you there (Sunday, August 3, Pen Park Pavilion #3, 2-5pm)!
From everyone at BWB