New Habits: What can we do NOW to Reduce Carbon Footprint, the Use of Plastics, and Help the Earth Heal

Posted in Uncategorized by Sing Books with Emily

Positive Action and New Habits
A list of ideas for things we can do NOW, TODAY to help the environment, reduce the production of garbage, and help the earth heal itself

Our oceans and lands should not be dumping grounds. And a solution must be found to single use plastics. In large masses, consumers (including us) have to start demanding a change in packaging. That’s all it is. We can go to food manufacturers/packagers directly. And we can go to retailers that sell

The products. If we demand products and foods packaged on sustainable materials, producers will supply.

And start making better choices, NOW.

Here are some ideas:

EVERYDAY HABITS

Buy milk in a carton instead of plastic
Use reusable bags (in produce and checkout)
If you smoke, do not make litter of the butts
NEVER LITTER ANYTHING EVER
In the produce section, choose the loose produce (not already in plastic)
Choose a product packaged in glass over one in plastic
Have a reusable cup for takeout coffee
Bring your lunch instead of buy (and use reusable containers or paper to wrap it
If you have a produce w a dispenser pump, there is probably refill you can buy for it instead of always buying a new small quantity bottle w a pump
Pick Up Trash when you see it and recycle or put it in the garbage
Recycle everything you can
Plant trees

NEIGHBORHOOD AND GLOBAL ACTION

Write the companies that make products you buy and ask them for plastic free packaging
Write the stores that sell the products you buy and ask them to sell products only packaged plastic free
Support efforts to clean up ocean garbage
Support efforts to clean up garbage on land
Encourage and support reforestation and tree planting all over the globe
Support efforts that prevent garbage from going where it shouldn’t (on land and sea)
Support efforts to make use of post consumer waste (transforming them into raw materials for more permanent products like outdoor furniture or building materials)

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Got other ideas? Share them!

There are so many small things we can do every day that, when taken as a whole, can make an enjoy different. It’s just a matter of establishing new habits. It’s not even difficult or inconvenient! It’s just finding better, healthier ways to do things.

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Related Posts

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PUT PRACTICES
Project PUT practices, ideas and achievements
https://projectput.wordpress.com/put-action-ideas/

Delicious French’s Fried Onions (and their horrible packaging and palm oil ingredient)

Posted in Uncategorized by Sing Books with Emily

I love French’s Fried Onions, but when I just now put another plastic box in the recycle bin, I decided to write them (via the contact form on their website) about their packaging:

Friends, I love French’s Fried onions. They are good on so many things. But I’m conflicted! The packaging is HORRIBLE! WHY A PLASTIC BOX? We use the box for such a short time and then FOREVER it sits in a landfill or degrades in a body of water to give us all cancer when it becomes micro-plastic and we eat it or drink it. Humans lived for millennia without plastic boxes. Couldn’t you package these delicious onions in a paper box with a wax paper liner? Come on! Let’s be good citizens of the earth. And, while you’re at it, how about NOT making them with palm oil. Is it really necessary to decimate rain forests to get that oil? You REALLY can’t use some other kind? Please. Do the right thing. You can still make delicious fried onions that everyone will love. But please, use packaging and ingredients that won’t ruin the planet. I want to enjoy the fried onions, but I don’t want to contribute to ruining the earth to enjoy them.

I run an effort called Project PUT: Pick Up Trash. I look forward to your response.

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Related Posts and Info

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Writing and Calling Companies About Their Packaging
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/writing-and-calling-companies-about-their-packaging/

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPUT/
@ProjectPUT

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Pinterest:

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Blog:
https://projectput.wordpress.com/

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Online:
ProjectPUT.org

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Twitter

30Oct2018

Kudos! Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms Uses Terrific Paper Packaging

Posted in Uncategorized by Sing Books with Emily

I just wrote Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms about the excellent mushrooms I purchased at Whole Foods the other day and their terrific paper packaging. I’d love to find out more about it.

Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms
https://organicmushrooms.com/
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10/30/2018

Dear Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms,

I purchased a package of your mushrooms from Whole Foods in Arlington (Clarendon), VA a few days ago. I really appreciate the paper boat that your mushrooms come in. I wish there was an alternative to the plastic wrap that holds them in, but I REALLY appreciate that paper container that is the primary component of your packaging. And the mushrooms were delicious.

I run a little effort called PROJECT PUT: PICK UP TRASH. This was my daughter’s idea a few years ago and, as she’s a teen now, she’s moved on from it. But I’m keeping it up because it was a wonderful idea. We pick up trash and put it where it belongs, encourage others to do the same, push anti-litter language, and support environmentalism and progressive politics (which supports environmentalism). We also promote responsible packaging (by writing companies about how they contain their products) and trying to suggest alternatives to single use plastic packaging.

I’d love to feature your mushrooms and packaging on our website and social media. Could you give me a link to the company that makes your paper containers? I’d love to share that company with other food producers as a viable alternative to single use plastics.

Project PUT: Pick Up Trash
Every little PUT counts
http://ProjectPUT.org
@ProjectPUT (Facebook & Twitter)
#ProjectPUTPickUpTrash
#DontLitter
#AmericaTheBeautiful
#LoveMotherNature
#ThereIsNoPlanetB

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Related Posts

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Related Posts and Info

*
Writing and Calling Companies About Their Packaging
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/writing-and-calling-companies-about-their-packaging/

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPUT/
@ProjectPUT

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Pinterest:

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Blog:
https://projectput.wordpress.com/

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Online:
ProjectPUT.org

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Twitter

Tweets by ProjectPUT

6Oct2018

10/6/2018 Packaging Note to Cherub Tomatoes

Posted in Uncategorized by Sing Books with Emily

Comment made to Cherub Tomatoes via Their Contact Form,
10/6/2018

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Hello, I like your tomatoes. I’m roasting some right now.

I’m writing to register my concern about your plastic packages. Single use plastics are one of the worst things for this beautiful planet we live on. Single use plastics don’t biodegrade, last for hundreds of years, pollute our waterways and lands.

RECYCLING is not an effective solution. The problem is single use plastic pollution is easy to solve. For millennia, up until just the last few debates food was distributed without plastic.

Your tomatoes are terrific. Your packaging, though real cute, is vile.

Does the earth really have to suffer this decades long piece of pollution for the convenience of a few weeks container when a biodegradable/compostable option would have worked just as well?

I understand companies want quick convenience. But at some point, we are going to have to seriously reckon with convenience in conjunction with being responsible.

Thank you,

Emily Gleichenhaus
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash
Every little PUT counts
ProjectPUT.org
@ProjectPUT (Facebook & Twitter)

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Related Posts and Info

*
Writing and Calling Companies About Their Packaging
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/writing-and-calling-companies-about-their-packaging/

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPUT/
@ProjectPUT

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Pinterest:

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Blog:
https://projectput.wordpress.com/

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Online:
ProjectPUT.org

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Twitter

Tweets by ProjectPUT

4Oct2018

VOTE (and Pick Up Trash to Protect America’s Health and Beauty)

Posted in Uncategorized by Sing Books with Emily

Vote (and sing for America)
Collage by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
Sing Books with Emily

I heard a motivational speaker say, “If it is to be, its up to me.” Don’t leave your well being up to others. Apathy facilitates corruption. It is true that God helps those who help themselves. Do all the good you can. VOTE.

Sing patriotic songs with your kids:
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/a-patriotic-list-of-singable-books-for-july-4th/

SING BOOKS WITH EMILY

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ALL ELEG POSTERS IN ONE PLACE
https://wisdominspirationgoodadvice.wordpress.com/all-poster-in-one-place/

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List of Organizations that Support and Facilitate Voting:
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2018/09/07/the-vote-is-the-antidote-elect-candidates-who-will-protect-the-environment/

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Wisdom, Inspiration, and Good Advice Blog (WIGA)
A collection of ideas, quotes, and poems to help guide my children to thrive, actualize their best selves, and become honorable citizens of the community and the world.
https://wisdominspirationgoodadvice.wordpress.com/