Sounds kinky (and maybe even fun for some of you), but what I am weighing is how environmentally-friendly latex balloons are.  Or aren’t.

Five years ago I did a project for my fraternity, during which I found the fact that latex biodegrades at the same rate as an oak leaf: about 26 days.

Well, as I plan for a wedding that is in nine months, I am trying to weigh out different decorating options. You might know what I mean – what do I need to buy, what should I certainly avoid buying, what do the things I buy need to be made of or where… and the questions keep going.

original on Austin Wedding Blog

While I also have to debate the equally pressing question of how tacky balloons are as decorations for anything except a 10-year-old’s birthday party, I decided (at 3 a.m.) to Google how environmentally sound (or destructive) latex balloons are.

As with everything, that all depends on who you ask.

Some blogs have ridiculously uni-dimensional and short-sighted views condoning balloons and claiming “all natural latex balloon releases are safe for the environment“.  There is even a Balloon Council (and several variations) looking out for the welfare of latex workers and balloon advocates everywhere.

I found that many green bloggers out there have already questioned the same thing.  Leslie Garrett over at Gaiam has the most comprehensive weighing of the issue that I have found, sharing the compounding issues such as latex’s slowing of biodegradable capabilities in certain temperatures, as well as her personal experience of constantly finding latex balloon remnants littering the ground.

Plus, what about the plastic ribbons knotted, tangled, and dangling from these balloons?  Those are toxic.  They get tangled around animals or eaten, right?

Some people have tried to feel good about using latex balloons by adding wildflower seeds inside to spread across the land after mass balloon releases.

Change.org has us pondering how many children in India are involved in human trafficking, making the very latex balloons we use to celebrate our own children’s birthdays.  They site this November 23 article from Times Live.

From an environmental perspective, some of my research showed promise that latex balloons can be used responsibly (like this and this).  And everything concludes to Green Sexy’s final thought:  Mylar balloons are always bad, so latex is the choice between the two.

Me though… pictures like this are all I needed to know that, as cute and whimsical as giant balloons are (SERIOUSLY check these cute wedding pics!), I have to decline.

Photograph by: ANDREW BIRAJ Credit: REUTERS

Just because I am blessed to live where I did not have to work in horrible conditions as a child to support my family does not mean I also have the right to buy products manufactured in such ways.

… in fact, it means just the opposite.  It is our responsibility to create a better world for others too.

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

PS. A mere hour after writing this original draft, I went for a walk at Shelley Lake here in Raleigh, NC and spotted this balloon debris just off the path, washed up from flooding… Perpetuating the solid no of balloon use.

My hometown newspaper covered a hummingbird catch-and-release story back in August, talking about how hummingbirds are being banded for research, adopted by general public individuals, and released.

Courtesy of Catawba County Parks via Hickory Daily Record

What fascinated me is that these tiny little creatures, who’s wings move so quickly that we generally cannot see them, are much quicker than I even imagined.  The Hickory Daily Record story says that one bird, captured and banded last year, was recaptured and reported in Texas only 12 days later, averaging 89 miles a day.

Also, many of the birds have been documented as coming to the same park the same day, year after year.  Interesting.

That is crazy!

I am not sure exactly how I feel about capturing and banding hummingbirds at all, but I know I am for research and projects that promote and lead to conservancy.

On that note, check out the comments after the story to see many perspectives on both sides of the boundary.  You also get to see how many people think $20 to hold a hummingbird is a rip-off, though I think it should cost more than that.

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has a hunting trip planned for first-time and beginning women hunters.

Ten women will spend two days (October 23 and 24) in North Hampton County.  $135 includes your food, lodging, and an experienced guide to help you get used to hunting, all while building possible friendships with other women exploring the arena also.

If you are not familiar with hunters at all, you may be surprised by the women in the field.  They are not 230 lbs. women with bad perms and a love of roadkill.  I learned from my NC Hunter Safety Training Course that in hunting, stereotypes need NOT apply.  Just check out these women hunters.

More women hunting resources:

• Women Hunters
• Hunting Magazine for Women: The Woman Hunter
• Camp Wild Girls
• Shoot Like A Girl
• Prois Hunting: Take Pride in NOT being one of the guys
• Women’s Outdoor News

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

I have to revive the garbage disposal controversy, as spawned a year and a half ago when Raleigh, NC government banned garbage disposals in homes (and quickly caved under scrutiny from lazy, self-absorbed, financially-influential people who worship their disposals).

A while back, I saw this great article by Raleigh Eco News regarding how “the quality of Falls Lake — Raleigh’s main water supply — is suffering while officials with the power to do something are failing to act”.

Reading it reminded me how ill I am that Raleigh renegged on their garbage disposal ban.

Why do I feel they should be banned?  Well, I do not feel like these sorts of kitchen scraps belong washed down our drain.  Besides killing your plumbing (yes, most of the people I know have to get their disposal repaired or unclogged, which we have never done since we toss our scraps), composting is the optimal option.

Despite Insinkerator’s claims of using the disposal being “green”, I have interesting consensus that it is the worst, most financially costly, most energy and environmentally-inefficient choice.  You pay the plumber, we all pay in higher taxes to come as the burden grows, and the natural waterways pay.

Plus, I see all the time that people who rely on their garbage disposal (usually absent-mindedly even) also are regulars at pouring grease and cooking juices down their drain, which is actually illegal in many states because of pollution.  Don’t believe that many people feel that way?  Just look at this one forum and how people tug-of-war over being able to.

Next time you have potatoes and squash to peel, grease to empty, and plates to scrape off, head to your compost bin or trash bag.

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue

One of my long-time favorite bloggers is Johann the Dog from the Raise a Green Dog blog, and I want to highlight three recent posts that I figure you dog owners should check out:

One is about deer antlers as a new healthy chew toy for your pup ~ one in which you do not have to worry about the bone-splintering effects of giving your dog leftover bones from your dinner (very bad).  Plus, apparently deer antlers are really tasty to your pup, not to mention considerably healthier (by being truly natural) than processed pig ears and typical dog treats.

Also, Johann reminds us that emergencies happen.  From house fires to hurricanes like Katrina to random quick-moving tornadoes, and we humans need to have emergency plans ~ ones that include planning for our pets.  Johann has a truly comprehensive list to plan for these incidents so that when the time comes, you have one less reason to panic… or worse yet, mourn the loss of some beloved family members.

Lastly, Johann shares the fact that being a great parent does not only require getting medical attention to your pet, but making sure your pet is not having an adverse reaction to the medications and chemicals.  Your pet cannot tell you how the medication (or chemical) is making them feel, but if you pay attention, you can see signs of distress.   I know that as a previous veterinary technician, we on occasion had pets who had adverse reactions (usually obvious from fatigue and lethargy 24 hours later) to simple annual shots such as rabies vaccine or such.  Knowing what to do in these situations is key, and Johann has the scoop.

Check them out if you have pets.  Johann has a load of information that you just may have accidentally taken for granted.

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

So much more is to come, but for now, to further respond and explain this (Green) Grounded article (and this one, this one, this one and this one too), I will let The Good Human explain why it is so important to “Take Some Time To See The World Around You“. This is a perfect post which actually explains why the hunters I know started hunting (as well as is the reason the majority of fellow students in my hunter safety education course said they wanted to get their license).  It also explains how I see many hunters as environmentalists… just with a different perspective than my own.

Thank you Allie for sharing this post, which I would not have found without The Greenists’ What’s Going On column.

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue

Yay me, I passed my North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Hunter Safety Education Course.

Last week, I did a Day One wrap-up, but Day Two offered a more personal feel as Instructor Wyatt Currin led the students in knowing each other better.

From the 25 students that attended on Day One, only 22 returned for the remaining classes.  Of them, I learned that five sets of fathers and sons were in attendance, and one was a 12-year-old boy that attended on his own.  One of the three women dropped out, and the one that stayed was there with her husband.  They were a young couple, around 30 years old, and she explained that this year she refused to wait around at home while her husband and his friends hunted ~ this year, she was joining in the fun!

Other surprises in the class:  a beautiful man who sat next to me is from Hungary and is a Principal Dancer with Carolina Ballet!  I had so much fun talking with him and learning how he loves the outdoors, how he decided to take up bow hunting, how he and his wife found themselves in North Carolina.  I had no idea until we were leaving on the final night he is also a Principal Dancer for the Ballet!

A Wake County Wildlife Officer joined the class to discuss the regulations of inland fishing, hunting and trapping in North Carolina.  He offered an interesting framework as someone who has seen all the bad hunters and the damage caused by unethical hunting.

Apparently, bear poaching is a big problem in North Carolina!  What?

I should not be surprised.  In every industry, hobby or field, unscrupulous characters remain and taint the reputation of others. (more…)

My first day in the Wildlife Commission Hunter Safety Course started off rocky enough as I drove to class with a head full of preconceived notions.  Leaving later than intended and encountering a pile of unexpected traffic, I could clearly see walking into the class tardy:

The class would have maybe 15 participants.  All men except for me.  Middle-aged men and their 10 or 12-year-old sons.  All of them dressed in camouflage.  They would all stare as I tried to enter the room.  “Ooh, haughty vegetarian girl is too good for showing up on time,” they would say.  The instructor, a longtime gamesman and warden himself, decked head to toe in camo, would tell me not only was attendance mandatory but so is punctuality.  Then he would tell me I needed to leave.

This was the scenario in my head, at least.

Upon pulling up to Camp Kanata in Wake Forest, I eventually found the camp’s “mess hall” and a number of parked cars.  I prayed as I ran out of my car and to the doors that this was the right location.  I also prayed that because it was the first day, they would start at 630 instead of 6.

They had started at 5:50.

Instructor Wyatt Currin (more…)

As a vegetarian/vegan of over a decade, taking a hunting safety education course and trying deer meat were not things I saw myself doing.

Yet here I am.

For background, you should know that I have not eaten land animals in any capacity since 1996.  Oh, except an episode of pepperoni under pizza cheese at my friend Mary’s 21st birthday.  One bite into the slice and vomiting shortly commenced.

I largely gave up seafood, the love of my life, in 2003 upon reading Howard Lyman’s Mad Cowboy.  This book propelled me into strict veganism for two years until I ate a cheese cube at a baby shower.  I have struggled to return to strict veganism since.

I also have to let you know, as background, that Marc comes from a hunting family.  The woods have always been Marc’s Dad’s sanctuary, and his connection with the food he feeds his family is one of deep understanding and respect.  Marc announced two years ago that he wanted to join his father in the woods and give hunting a shot (pun possibly intended).  This, you may have guessed, horrified me, concerned me, and best put, simply baffled me.

Fast forward to now.  I see how much Marc, who has always adored nature and wildlife, feels more connected with the natural environment.  I see how much more Marc connects with nature now.  From the trees and soil that nourish the land, to the deer that navigate the land to raise their fawns, to the way the sunlight falls through the leaves onto the forest floor, Marc has become a nature detective.  I also see how deeply bejiggity he gets when he is not regularly able to spend time on the land.

He also profoundly appreciates food more now than he ever had before.  He knows how food gets to his plate, as he is a part of that process.  From studying life, to deciding whether to “harvest” the animal (standard lingo, not his words), to actively dressing and preparing the animal and its meat for consumption, Marc sees, and is, the process.

Do I understand any of this?  No.  I do see, however, that hunting is not the barbaric, ignorant, cruel, animal-hating, big-man-with-a-big-gun act of uneducated backwoods folk I once regarded it as.  Granted, a few hunters certainly fit that stereotype, but a few vigilante veganazis (my word choice) disgrace us all and leave people like myself to fight stereotypes of the paint-throwing, screaming, sometimes-hypocritical, always-self righteous, animals-mean-more-to-me-than-any-humans freak.  Does every label not have a few extremists?

A couple weeks ago, Marc cooked some of his deer for a couple of our dear friends, a married couple.  In actuality, being that one of those friends is a land-animal vegetarian of 16 years, Marc cooked the deer for the husband and himself.  I made made roasted bell peppers, wild rice, and asparagus for all of us.

The wife had always been curious of Marc’s deer meat, however, and decided to try it.  I had never been curious, but decided I would try it as well.  Why would I also not try Marc’s deer?  I consider deer hunting to be a sustainable food source, I know how and where the meat comes from, and I am embarking on a “project” regarding the sustainability perspectives of hunters.

The deer was good, I am sure.  To me, it was simply odd.

Not bad.  Meaty.  Warm — not in actual heat but in some otherwise indescribable this-is-an-organ kind of warmth.  For someone who does not desire meat, the one bite sufficed.  If you enjoy that warm, soft, meaty taste in a shredded barbecue texture, you will probably love it.  It reminded me, as someone who has only vague memories of most meats, of my mother’s pot roast from childhood.  I was never a fan of pot roast.

On the contrary, one bite did not suffice the wife, as she broke away from her 16-year-abstinence and had a plate full of deer.  She had loved pot roast as a child.

Anyhow, keep updated.  The point of this background story and recent anecdote is:

1. Unlike what some “friends” have claimed, I am honest about what I do, and do not, eat.  What I choose to eat or not, and when I choose to or not, is my decision.  I have zero to hide.
2. I was inspired in Spring for a research project… After 13 years studying why to “go veg”, I am taking in all the information about hunting I can, and I will be sharing my findings with you along the way.  This includes taking an upcoming hunting safety education course with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

This, I have a feeling, is going to be an interesting winter for me…

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

Without dramatics or great elaboration, here is a list of common ingredients in foods that I work hard to avoid.  I would love to hear what ingredients you choose to avoid and why.

• A huge “duh”: High Fructose Corn Syrup, despite their fluffy (ridiculous) ad campaign
• Should be a huge “duh”: Corn Syrup, period
• Monosodium Glutamate, aka MSG
• Aspartame
• Propyl Gallate, which prevents fats from going rancid in food and cosmetics
• Propylene Glycol, which I found in my cosmetics, antifreeze, and shredded coconut
• Acesulfame K, aka “Sweet One”
• Food Colorings, such as FD&C anything
• Olestra
• Potassium Bromate (see here also regarding iodine deficiency…your bread is a culprit!)
• Sodium Chloride, aka “table salt”
• Sulfites (very hard, as they are in most beers and wines, but can cause asthma attacks, rashes, headaches, etc)
• Non-organic Corn (likely genetically modified, which concerns me because of this, this and this)
• Non-organic Berries, Grapes, Apples, Leafy Greens
• Meats (for Marc) with Sodium Nitrites or Nitrates, Butylated Hydroxy anything (BHA or BHT)

These can be very tricky to avoid, and I have learned not to take anything for granted.  Now I read every label, and you might be shocked to realize what “healthy”-marketed brands have completely horrific ingredients.

Any food ingredients I need to avoid that I missed?

Always do your own research.  Know what your ingredient list is.  Decide for yourself how you feel.  Plus, be warned that finding credible third-party information from peer-reviewed scholastic independent journals can be incredibly hard to find.  Do not rely on any information supplied by branches of the government, pharmaceutical companies, or food processors… as they have obvious ties and financial interests in securing you to believe what they want you to believe.  In fact, with every single study you find, you have to find out not only who conducted the study, but who paid for that study.  Like the “high fructose corn syrup is made with corn, so it’s good for you” ads: provided by the Corn Refiners Association of America.  That said, please do not rely on scare-tactic emails and Wikipedia as your sources either.

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue