http://www.greengrounded.com Green Grounded. Ashley Sue's adventures o' Green. Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:07:00 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Recently I had to purchase a new car (new to me, at least) due to an accident back in September. I had been driving a 2006 Impala with combined 30 mpg, and I knew that this unfortunate event had the silver lining of allowing me to talk with my money ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/11/15/fuel-efficient-cars-fall-short-in-cost-efficiency/ In the sticky transition I am in, lodged back and forth amidst my new home (Asheville) and the home we're leaving (Raleigh), I was lucky enough last week to have two goodbye outings with work colleagues.  The first was fun and official.  The second one was impromptu.  On a whim, four of ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/11/14/a-moonlight-goodbye-in-raleigh/ In the controversies of the world, the sustainability impact of paper towels will be historically noted.    While that may not be entirely true, the ecological impact of deforestation certainly has already made its way into our children's textbooks and society's pop-culture.   Yet, people frankly don't think about the ramifications of disposable items ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/11/14/what-paper-goes-on-your-booty/ Last night Eco-Office Gals tagged me in a tweet/blog, letting me know I’ve been tagged.  I had seen this before on blogs and twitter, and promise that this will be the last tagging you'll get from me (as I am super excited to do this, but like chain letters, it ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/11/14/green-grounded-tagged-dirt-on-ashley-sue/ Green Grounded is sometimes amazed at how the natural environment and urban development merge.  Often, I notice that we push wildlife out of their natural settings.  Consequences are expressed in our daily lives as we experience far too many deer carcasses on the side of highways. On a much (much) lighter note ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/11/13/valley-of-the-geese/ After I saw the first few leaves changing color over a week ago, Raleigh faced a couple freezes, and all the trees are ablaze with splendid Autumn magnificience.   John over at Raleigh Nature shared the most AMAZING pics of the foliage over at Dorothea Dix campus.    My photos are not nearly as ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/11/12/raleigh-nature-ablaze/ I watch a silly show:  Kimora Lee Simmons: Life in the Fab Lane.  A couple weeks back I was going to write a post on how her Fashion Week plans could have been much more eco-friendly and less dramatic had she not hired a Chinese factory to produce her men's ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/11/09/kimora-lee-is-fab-and-green/ Lame play on words, but I wanted to write a brief commentary on the energy, emotionally, of our nation post Tuesday's election.  Tuesday itself was a holiday to me, commanding more honor than so many national holidays, I have looked forward to Election 2008 since summer of 2007.  I compiled ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/11/08/national-energy-post-election/ The film here was filmed in mid-September, as Green Grounded and the Triangle were suffering from $5 a gallon gasoline.  "Drill Baby Drill!" was a popular chant (or source of criticism), and I was still driving Gina.  I planned on airing it before registration deadline, but life (and car accidents) ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/11/03/gas-prices-drop-but-energy-debate-continues/ The debates rage on for all the reasons to commute in town on bicycles (and motorcycles), as well as why they should stay off the road.  We all know bicycling reduces pollution, slows our dependency on oil, and keeps us much healthier.  Regardless of the benefits, here is a list of the reasons ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/24/keep-your-bikes-off-the-road/ This just may be the funniest email I've gotten in a while, promoting green eco-friendly bags for your dog's business!  I have no idea what the bags are made of, but the email was too funny not to share.  Enjoy~ Sustainably... A*Sue *****************************************   Hello Asheley, I would like to introduce an eco-friendly pet ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/23/green-poo-flush-away/ Green Grounded got a great sticker from Toastie regarding the environment, and it's timely, due to the upcoming election. It's horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment. ~ Ansel Adams http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/23/ansel-adams-on-the-environment/ So, here I am driving a rental Chevrolet Cobalt (who told me to call her Tina...) for another couple days until I get a check for Gina and find another car.  This accident has me not only looking for another car-friend in my life, but has me asking questions regarding ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/22/choosing-a-new-car/ The Green Grounded Team could not believe how many envelopes, letters, postcards, brochures, and copies of our police report ended up in our mailbox after the accident.  Apparently, advertising your law services and chiropractic practice keeps the USPS in business... and unfortunately, continues deforestation for paper products. I think a ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/22/car-accident-kills-tree/ After seeing a great post by The Good Human on choosing an eco-friendly option when renting a car, I figured I would work on updating you guys as to Green Grounded's own car saga.  But, before we move into posts on searching and buying another car, I need to air ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/21/losing-gina/ How beautiful it is outside... earlier this week, just outside my apartment window, I spotted the first colorful signs of Autumn.  Have I ever mentioned this is the most magical time of year? Without fail, this time of year is a sign of renewal for me.  I know many people attribute the ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/17/autumn-charm-graces-raleigh/ Not because our nation has figured out the mastery of green technology and alternative fuels, but for various other reasons a Yahoo news article claims that gas prices could be $3 or less a gallon in time for the holidays!   The article states On Friday, fears of a global recession helped drive ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/13/three-dollar-a-gallon-gas-and-soon/ The deadline for voter registration in North Carolina is FRIDAY, 10 October 2008, so Green Grounded encourages you North Cackalackians to GET REGISTERED.  Otherwise, you don't get to make that difference... and for the first time in history, North Carolina could be an important link in the Presidential Elections!  We ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/09/voter-registration-deadline-in-nc/ In case you didn't see the N&O article yesterday, Green Grounded and friends saw that a group is conducting a study to look into taxing each mile you drive instead of continuing with the state's highway tax on each gallon of gasoline you purchase.   Fourteen states besides North Carolina are included ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/09/taxing-every-mile-you-drive/ According to the NC State Board of Elections: Voter Registration as of 10/03/2008   Democratic: 2,736,668 Republican: 1,960,138 Libertarian: 1,603 Unaffiliated: 1,332,583   Total: 6,030,992   So, if Democrats outnumber Republicans here in NC, why are we notoriously a Red State?  Are those "unaffiliated" voters primarily closet-Republicans?  Or are Democrats just not voters?   Just curious if ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/03/more-dems-in-nc-than-republicans/ Don't vote.  Do not vote.  As much as Green Grounded has previously taken the stance that you need to vote, we've changed our tune.    Don't vote.  Not like it matters anyhow.  After all, this whole last week has shown me what good it all does anyhow.  Right?   Now tell all your friends... ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/10/02/do-not-vote-dont-waste-your-time/ After yesterday's car accident, Marc and I are returning to life as normal. Team Green Grounded is happy to report that no serious injuries impeded on either party. I only wish we could say the same for the vehicles. My Impala, Gina, took a blow she didn't ask for or ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/27/car-accident-brings-gg-new-journey/ In case you didn't hear, many plastic drink containers contain a toxin that damages both human health and environmental safety.  The toxin is bisphenol A (aka BPA), and this includes your eco-friendly multi-use drink bottles, like some Nalgene bottles.   What is sparking my rehashing of this issue, you ask?   Well, a couple ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/23/buh-bye-drink-bottles/ For Car-Free Day, I will share with you a (partisan) photobucket pic I ran across about Obama and McCain and their transportation footprint:   On that note, I also mentioned that DATA and Wolfline Bus trips were free today.  I saw over on David's New Raleigh that Raleigh's CAT busline was too, ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/22/in-the-spirit-of-cars-and-politics/ It's National Car-Free Day. Unfortunately I've already driven. I work, and as most American cities are not very walkable, I drove to a location to get some work done.   I hear, though, that Durham is allowing all riders to get on for free today. And in Raleigh, of course, the NC ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/22/car-free-monday/ Like Fergie, I choose to show off what I have, ooh the flossy flossy.  I went to the dentist to show him my teeth.  OK, so teeth cleanings and flossing aren't so glamorous.  C'est la vie.   He and his team are EXCELLENT, so if you need a dentist recommendation here in Raleigh, ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/20/glamorous-ooh-the-flossy-flossy/ Let's all hope we can appreciate our selves and our lives more with each year, and cherish the functions of each part of who we are, and radiating humanity and compassion for ourselves and others, just as Jane shares in her video...   :)  Thank you, Jane.       Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/19/love-yourself/ For those of you who have not heard, Green Grounded and team are relocating to Asheville, NC.   This move has been nine years in the making, and once upon a day, I would have easily thought Asheville was too full of self-righteous granola types to want to move there.  I may ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/17/moving-to-asheville/ So, channel surfing led me to an outraged Lou Dobbs on CNN talking about how ridiculous it is that the FDA is not erring on the side of human safety and halting including of bisphenol-A (BPA) in consumer goods until more studies are complete.   The studies that are complete show a direct ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/16/live-on-lou-dobbs-bpa-ruled-safe/ Here in the Triangle, we finally got a few days of summer heat, though it pales in comparison to the month straight of 100 degrees that we faced August 2007.   Regardless, Marc and I have been so happy to leave windows open most of this summer.  Worst case scenario, we would ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/16/air-conditioning-my-allergies/ Back to the overfishing conundrum, I just received an email from Elizabeth Ouzts of Environment NC: Hi ,   The Pacific leatherback turtle is on the brink of extinction.    There are only 350 northern right whales left off the Atlantic coast.    Red snapper populations in the Gulf of Mexico are down to 5 percent of ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/15/they-die-people-fish-and-turtles/ They die.  We shop.   A friend of mine made a beautiful video a couple months back.  Her words and her art have stuck with me for the entire time, and I want to share with her video you.   Consumerism is dirty.  I do not mean that all buying and the concept of gift-giving ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/15/they-die-we-shop/ No, Amber Valletta is not looking for a green-hued ocean, but by teaming up with Oceana.org (and the likes of Ted Danson), she is advocating a healthier environment and healthier eating.   Back in May, Valletta began speaking out and campaigning against mercury exposure.  Now a mother, the cover girl is using her ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/13/model-for-a-green-ocean/ Back when I enjoyed eating seafood (who's kidding me?  I will always love and miss seafood), I would chow down about any fish, not worrying for a second what environmental impact it may have.  Fish flesh was just too good.   Things have changed a bit in my world, and now I ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/11/big-green-fish-or-rotten-fish/ If you feel overwhelmed with "going green", you aren't alone.  This website I just stumbled into is all about feeling overwhelmed with the hype and breaking it down to making your home your ultimate safe, healthy and inspired sanctuary.   Check out Beyond Green Living for another website keeping it grounded. http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/09/03/beyond-green-labels/ Consumerism bad, consumption good, abusing credit terrible, but in the battle of credit card ad campaigns sending a message that would make me want to use their card, American Express wins the battle with their new Members Project! Where Discover Card BOMBED for their blatant brainwashing-themed "Buy More and Do So ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/08/24/american-express-is-my-friend/ ... Amazon.com that is.  Don't buy your books through your local bookstore.  Order it online instead!   For the record, I am not trying to bash buying from your locally-owned independent bookstore.  For instance, in previous posts, I have promoted locally-owned bookstores for getting your goods.  And August 23rd (SATURDAY, AS IN ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/08/22/saving-the-earth-through-amazon/ Gas prices have nixed my willingness to order delivery food any longer.   Last Thursday, Marc and I decided I would order myself chinese food for dinner, which thrilled me, as I rarely get to eat the stuff... Marc hates it.  It was convenient, however, for we were travelling that weekend and ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/08/18/no-chinese-delivery-for-me/ Literally, the granite countertop you stand over and breathe over may be leeching radon... poisonous (like lead) radon, right into the air of your home and the lungs of your family.   According to an article in Nat Geo's The Green Guide, radon is not just poisonous, but it happens to be the ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/08/13/poison-right-under-your-nose/ ...or is Discover Card just one troll in the jungle of jerks advocating over-spending, under-consumption, throw-it-away-and-buy-a-new-replacement mindless drivel?    Have you seen their new commercial?  It makes me sick. First, you are full of it.    When the first words of your commercial are "We're a nation of consumers... and there's nothing wrong with that," ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/08/11/discover-card-sucks/ So, after having other Green Grounded posts about getting a dozen unsolicited phonebooks last year (here and here), one phonebook of which is still lying in my trunk, I got an email from a very greenie colleague, NBC 17 Reporter Laura Barron, that Yellow Pages have gone green and you can register to ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/08/11/no-more-phonebooks-thank-god/ Perhaps those of you who used to frequent my other url (blogs.wncn.info/aallen) or even stop in occasionally have noticed that Green Grounded is no longer updating. I've been in the process of creating my own blog ~ registered my domain, took entirely too much time figuring out what things like "root ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/08/09/things-change-and-here-i-am/ A colleague of mine recently had me meet Pete Pagano of Green Planet Catering here in Raleigh, NC. NBC 17 covered the company recently, and though the catering company has only been catering for about half a year, but the concept has been growing much much longer. I have to admit, the ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/06/20/catering-for-this-green-planet/ The wildfire last week had Raleigh (and other parts of the state) looking like Houston in the late 1980s.  My girlfriend from the VA beach area said it covered them last week as well. The smoke lifted by Friday, but in case you missed it, were out of town, or just ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/06/16/in-case-you-miss-raleighs-haze/ I'm guessing unless you've sat in your home the last day, you've also inhaled the warm smolder lingering in the air. Both Durham and Raleigh are feeling the effects of the 42,000 acre wildfire burning in Eastern NC.  Which is a huge ordeal, and with rain levels lower than average, the ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/06/12/fire-in-eastern-nc-smokes-over-durham-raleigh/ Water, sugar, sugar, sugar... and Glaceau claims Vitamin Vater is healthy for you!  I repeat... vita-what?! OK, Marc and I went to Earthfare up at Brier Creek last week and got hypnotized by the huge selection of beautifully-colored (BPA-leaching irresponsibly plastic bottled) VitaminWater selection.  After all the hype of how this ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/06/08/vita-what/ Kiddies, it is again time to pull that bike out and get to Wooly the Bull in downtown Durham by 530 tomorrow night (first Thursday) for Critical Mass. I can think of few better ways to engage in your community, engage your physical health and start the habit of biking where you ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/06/04/durhams-critical-mass-thursday/ Here in the Triangle, the housing market isn't our biggest financial woe.  Energy costs is. As the price of energy goes up incrementally every day, we are less concerned with foreclosures (though some do face this nightmare, we are significantly lower in foreclosures than the national average) and far more concerned ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/06/02/gas-dependence/ Welcome to The Carbon-Free Home, where you can recycle your water and end your home's dependence on oil, all while composting your own poo! On May 31st, this Saturday, at Common Ground Green Building Center and Kitchen Design (326 W Geer St), the Durham authors will be signing their newly published book, ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/28/may-31-carbon-free-home/ Lowes Motor Speedway partnered with the local Anheuser-Busch Recycling Corporation (yes, Anheuser-Busch has a recycling corp) to put out well over 200 recycling containers in the speedway for last night's big Kasey Kahne victory (and for good). While I'm in Hickory with my Papa and Marc, I got stuck watching the 600 ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/26/recycling-just-got-racy/ Marc and I went to Falls Lake in Raleigh this past Sunday for, what Marc thought, was fishing.  I went just to relax on a rock.  Little did we realize that Falls Lake is simply a disaster zone of plastic, broken glass, cigarette butts and nuclear waste. OK, the nuclear waste is ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/18/falls-lake-a-plastic-disaster/ "The hideousness of that foot will haunt my dreams forever." ~John Turturro as Emilio Lopez in Mr. Deeds (2002) That is the line Marc gave me upon looking at my foot, one week after being viciously ravaged by fire ants.  Rest in peace, little buddies.  You got me pretty good, and ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/17/the-hideousness-of-that-foot-will-haunt-my-dreams-forever/ I figure my money talks, so when I had to have a recent meeting at Starbucks, I chose to let them know I will only use my money for their fair trade and organic coffees.  I walked up to the counter where two pleasant young women greet me and ask what I would ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/16/money-speaks-right/ I visited Twig this week, a unique store here in the Triangle (Chapel Hill) that sells sustainability, community and eco-awareness at sustainable prices, and this weekend (May 17) they are partnering with local non-profits, but more on that later. I loved talking with the staff. The owner shared that everything in ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/14/twig-living-this-saturday/ A couple listservs and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) of Durham are publicizing this coming week is National Bike to Work Week.  Monday, 12 May through Friday, 16 May, get your fanny on a bike to get where you have to go.  More info is at www.bikewalkdurham.org.  Also know ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/10/bike-walk-work/ I do not know about your week, but betweeen life, work and elections, the first three days of this week were pretty high-impact, so I am taking a long deep breathe today to relax with clips from my last trip to the park. Marc and I went up to Shelley Lake ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/08/your-meditation-minute/ A press release today told me a giant shopping cart with a Chevy engine on it is back, racing around the Triangle this month.  It's the "Got to Be NC Big Cart", which I remember seeing at the 2007 N.C. State Fair. This cart is showing off for the NC Dept ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/07/hemi-powered-shopping-carts/ Voting literally took about as long as it will take you to watch this, and NC has now heard two more voices during this all important election.  Seriously... get out there, or cram it next time you want to complain about gas prices, food prices, school systems or transportation.  :)  ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/06/rock-the-vote-pronto/ So, last year when I found out that Raleigh (nor anywhere else in the Triangle) recycles yogurt cups despite being #1 in the little recycling triangle, I was skeeved. Yes, it seems that much of NC will not recycle recyclable plastic ~ not unless it is shaped like a bottle and ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/06/yogurt-cups-go-where/ I am going "there" to let you know how I feel about all this talk from Hillary Clinton and John McCain about a gas tax holiday.  I think it's ridiculous.  Yep.  I went there. We are within 24 hours of voting in the primary elections, and for the first time in ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/05/05/you-want-a-gas-price-holiday/ My friends Jake and Anna have done an AMAZING job looking through NC Assembly laws, on the books or in the works, and highlighted the top 20 on greening our state responsibly. Check out their finds across four separate posts: NC Assembly Part 1, NC Assembly Part 2, NC Assembly Part ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/30/nc-lawmakers-on-green/ Planning a wedding can be difficult, but if you want to be a bit more eco-friendly and have a "green" wedding, your headache in finetuning the details may just be starting. The Green Life has a whole slew of tips for your big day...  Some suggestions are reasonable, and some are ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/29/getting-married-while-being-green/ Whoa~ I just saw a spot with Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson uniting together for climate and environmental responsibility.  I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I have to say I am happy to see an issue that UNITES so many people! http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/28/jesus-said-ye-shall-unite/ I just stumbled (twittered, actually) onto the coolest website called Green Mom Finds.  I had as much fun finding this as when I found Raise A Green Dog!  Just like Raise a Green Dog, Green Mom Finds is a really grounded way to get info on healthy living, fun finds, ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/27/greening-the-family/ A new movement has begun to first go green and then to change it to blue so we've all gone (or are going) blue... Huh?  Blue's the new Green (which is the new Orange, which is the new Pink, which is the new Black ~ in case you hadn't heard)?  Why ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/26/going-blue-huh-am-i-colorblind/ This video totally has your answer for why you should love CFL bulbs.  Three minutes of "CFLs in Plain English".  All lessons should be this cool. Note, not all CFLs are created equal.  It pays to buy a $4 name-brand bulb instead of a cheapy version which will turn yellow-colored ~ In fact, ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/25/cfl-bulbs-in-plain-english/ So, I previously mentioned the fluke weather that befuddled Marc and myself on the way to a restaurant Sunday evening (around 8 pm), but here are more pictures from the BEAUTIFUL rainbow.  And a video  :)  Also, I apologize for the BAD music playing... from my doorstep until we got to ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/23/rainbows-over-raleigh/ All over the world, Happy Earth Day 2008! It's a little anti-climatic though in the sense that, like Valentine's Day or 9-11, it's a little bogus to have it shoved in our faces and for each of us to feel super (romantic/patriotic/) eco-minded if it's only going to be for the one day. For ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/22/earth-day/ Marc went to the auto-parts store and bought about 10 items and was rewarded with the longest receipt on Earth, ever.  Has anyone else noticed how insanely long receipts are getting, tacking on a "go to this website and you could win ... !" bs smorgasbord at the bottom?  That's crazy ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/21/longest-receipt-ever/ I spent yesterday at Herbfest in Wake Forest before heading out to downtown Raleigh for the last half of their Earth Day celebrations.  Let me just say, Herbfest ~ you are cool.  No wonder Sierra Club named Wake Forest one of America's coolest cities! Further, Raleigh, I got there at 530 for ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/20/herbfest-2008-is-a-must-raleigh-earth-day-a-bust/ This cartoon came via my friend Mike. Heaehaeh It's a little gloomy, but I cracked up nonetheless! Thanks, Mike! BTW, Saturday Earth Day Celebration wrap-ups coming up (as well as LONG overdue Footprints Conference video!)~ Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/19/the-world-and-mankind/ From Durham to Raleigh to Pittsboro to Chapel Hill to Clayton to Wake Forest, the entire Triangle is getting down and getting dirty to celebrate Mother Earth this Saturday (April 19th).  Here are some of the Rockstar events going on THIS weekend, as well as which ones you are apt ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/18/triangle-rocks-for-earth-day/ So, in addition to this weekend's West Durham Urban Hike, check out "Slow-Flow, Warm Glow", an AWESOME energy, water and conservation event at Watts-Hillandale.  All you have to do is show up at Oval Park on W. Club Blvd on Saturday morning (THIS SATURDAY, 12th April) at 9 am, and then ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/11/west-durham-watts-hillandale-energy-fair-tomorrow/ Sierra Club is sponsoring an "Urban Hike" in Durham this Saturday where OWD resident and Durham historian John Schelp will share all the juicy random fun that Durham's quirky history has... One resident who has previously taken John's hike said he learned more in one afternoon on the hike than in ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/10/urban-hike-in-durham-saturday/ I saw this picture at a business expo last week, insinuating the bank is about the green: Further, they handed out a flier explaining they give you 5% yields for using your check card... and in smaller print explain that the bank plants a tree (via the Arbor Day Foundation) for ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/09/green-banking-or-green-pockets/ In case you hadn't heard, Raleigh banned sink garbage disposals, but after outcry and various town meetings, Raleigh is now repealing the ban and ALLOWING garbage disposals. No $25k a day fines.  No need to gripe.  No issue for builders. I'll stick with my buddy, Doug, on the final sentiment I have: My ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/08/down-the-drain-raleigh-allows-disposals/ The NC State Board of Elections sent out the 2008 NC Primary Voter Guide last week, and I wanted to bring to your attention that our NC Primary Election will be May 6.  In order to vote in the much-hyped North Carolina election, you MUST register in your current address, ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/06/to-vote-you-must-register-now/ A couple months ago, Lisa and I met a nice gentleman in Benson walking his dog, John Boy, who was on his way to recycle. I hope introducing you to Lisa's and my Benson friends gives you a Saturday morning smile. http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/05/recycling-dogs-in-benson/ This weekend, Chapel Hill is having a rainbarrel event, and Chatham County's Abundance Foundation is having a Vermiculture Workshop at Pittsboro's Piedmont Biodiesel. 1. Chapel Hill's rainbarrel event: Purchase Discount Rain Barrels at H2Oh! Education Fair Chapel Hill's Stormwater Management Division is sponsoring a rain barrel sale and H2Oh! Education Fair on Saturday, ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/04/a-worms-and-rainbarrel-saturday/ With the rain rain rain we've gotten, Durham did the inevitable and lowered water restrictions from stage iv to stage iii.  This all has been highlighted during a recent drought forum held by a neat group I hadn't heard of ~ the Wise Women for Growth. Bull City Rising shares feelings ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/03/durham-lowers-water-restrictions/ "There's a lot of 'green scamming'" said Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farms Organic Yogurt at today's Footprints Conference 2008, but every company including Walmart and John Deere are claiming their grass is greener. Live blogging from the conference, I can only regurgitate tidbits right now and save video for you for later. Just ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/02/john-deere-and-walmart-fight-green/ Tomorrow, the Triangle has a plethora of events regarding sustainability, nature and biking.  Check out the Annual Footprints Conference in Durham, the Comprehensive Bike Plan meeting in Raleigh or Eleni's (amazing) documentary, Seeing Through the Fence (second screening, by popular demand) at Duke.  Details are (from my inbox to yours):  ************* 2008 Annual Fuqua Footprints Conference: "Market-Based Approaches ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/01/sustainability-events-for-april-2-2008/ In an effort to get people outta their cars and onto bikes as transportation (not merely exercise), (1) check out whoisbike and (2) know that Cary is offering classes to boost your road and biking confidence (convenient Cary ~ to both Durham and Raleigh ~ SO REGISTER!) :)  Here's the ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/04/01/dust-off-your-bike-its-spring/ After having quite a debate in a recent post (see comments) about the importance of third-party testing of products, we can all conclude that companies must be accountable for their products and actions.  Green Daily (a while back) shared The Six Sins of Greenwashing... and in my opinion, it works two ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/03/28/motivation-good-greenwashing-bad/ Straight from my inbox to you (Love and Sustainably Yours, Ashley Sue!):  Meet filmmaker Jeff Barrie and see Kilowatt Ours on March 27 at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham! See the newly edited national edition of this award-winning film and learn about local energy conservation efforts. Award-winning filmmaker and environmentalist, Jeff ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/03/25/kilowatt-ours-filmmaker-jeff-barrie/ I've been so in love with all my healthy products ~ my earthy shampoos, moisturizers, cleansers, lotions ~ and though they've got some good stuff, they also have some carcinogens. An independent study just came out, and I've been reading the press releases on this all weekend.  Not fun, but a ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/03/19/bummer-but-green-goes-toxic/ In light of Raleigh's new ordinance, in effect this coming Monday (March 17th), if you are building a home, renovating your home or simply repairing your kitchen, don't bother to look into a garbage disposal for your sink.  Apparently, Raleigh's making another effort to save our water supply. I have no ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/03/13/down-the-drain-raleigh-ditches-disposals/ In case you hadn't heard the buzz about the Sustainability Conference coming up, held for two days at the McKimmon Center on NCSU campus: Save the Date: 5th Annual North Carolina Sustainable Energy Conference: Our Future Now!!! April 8-9, 2008 McKimmon Conference and Training Center NC State University, Raleigh, NC Information and registration: http://www.energync.net/conference I won't be ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/03/11/april-sustainability-conference/ So last weekend was a (super much needed) three-day weekend for Marc and myself, and we visited our best friends whom live in Virginia.  Sara and Jason treated us to all sorts of coolness, including a visit to their local "eco-bistro", Croc's. The food was good.  The ambiance was neat.  The ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/03/10/virginia-crocs-eco-bistro/ If you know me, I am very open to the fact I cannot make plans without first consulting my external brain: my Palm Pilot.  After several collegiate years of carrying around three, yes three, separate planners (life, fraternity and homework) and an ever growing pile of lists and post-it reminders, ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/03/09/e-recycling-my-pda/ I have disappeared, or so it seemed, but after talking to some AMAZING Sustainablers here in the Triangle (as well as my gal Ginny) and having an amazing three-dayer in Chesapeake, VA, I'm taking a new approach to this blog and pumped about my refocusing.  :) To kick off this renewal, ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/03/05/reintroducing-ashley-sue/ [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="195" caption="George Washington Carver, pondering those soybeans"][/caption] This week (and not because it's Black History Month) I shall celebrate George Washington Carver, whom I now dub the Grandfather of Green.  Without this man's contributions to science, I would have no tasty vegan substitutes like the Gimme Lean sausage ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/02/24/george-washington-carver-is-the-father-of-soybean-green/ Straight from my inbox into your head: Local Business, Community Leaders learn about need for clean water at Triangle Water for Life Event What:  WaterPartners International brings global water crisis thought-leader Gary White and extreme runner Charlie Engle to the Triangle.  They will illustrate severity of crisis and the support needed for ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/02/20/chapel-hill-drought-event/ The bees are dying and your ice cream is about to cost a lot more... and be far more limited in variety.  That's according to Haagen Daz and CNN. Colony Collapse Disorder. It's the beginning of our demise, starting with your favorite summer treat. http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/02/19/bees-die-goodbye-ice-cream/ My can of worms for you:  Walmart is getting in on green.  With the new Clorox line of environmentally-safe cleaning products (second can, now open) at a cheap price on Walmart shelves to bring the masses toward healthier living, CFLs for your lamps and Walmart taking strict "ethical" guidelines to reduce ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/02/19/walmart-is-just-so-green/ GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES GREEN BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESSES $1 Million Fund Will Help Companies Develop Cutting-Edge Green Technologies Gov. Mike Easley announced that small business owners and entrepreneurs can apply today for the new North Carolina Green Business Fund grants. These competitive grants will help small businesses develop promising green ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/02/18/start-a-green-nc-business/ Stumbling through the forest of green bloggers, I found my favorite ever, a blog called Environmental Talk.  This guy, Mark Jabo... well, he IS green: grounded.  Kinda (I'm still me.  And thus different.  And good.).  Plus he's just freakin funny.  I almost hate touting him because he does the green scene and ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/02/17/my-fav-blog-and-mentor/ So, I'm desperate to dye my hair, and I'd go purple if I worked a different industry right now, but as I've got to keep a "professional" look, I'm searching for something less... well, drastic.  But the dye I choose has to be natural. What does "natural" hair dye mean, actually?  ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/02/16/i-want-green-earth-hair-dye-safe-vegan-vegetarian/ Here's some local news on New Raleigh.  Thinking about greening our vehicle habits is an important step in awareness. Further, I just recently got on the eco-driving kick... I already knew that the slower you drive the more gas (and money) you save (as contradictory as that may seem), but did you ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/02/15/cars-and-eco-driving/ Allie gives a tip for TODAY in case you're scrounging for a great gift idea... my add-on tip?  Tell your doll you want to wait until this weekend to celebrate it right... after all, no matter what your super-last minute gift is, if it's insincerely thrown together, it will STINK ... http://www.greengrounded.com/2008/02/14/no-valentines-gift-yet/