Eco Alley

Living Green with Connie Pumphrey

Every time there is a push to clean up the environment, corporations begin their rant that jobs will suffer and the economy will collapse if they are required to follow the rules….yes, the rules.  There are enough environmental laws on the books to wallpaper the CIA.  I think what corporations mean is that they just don’t want to… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 02/11/11 at 04:33 PM

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The most important component of reducing my carbon footprint is driving less – not an easy habit to break.  I’ve been taking public transportation when I can and it involves riding the MARC train from Odenton to Union Station and then Metro’s Red Line to Bethesda.  On a perfect day, it takes 45 minutes.  It isn’t bad unless… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/30/11 at 08:18 AM

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I read constantly - so much so that an old boyfriend told me that I lived my life through books rather than in the real world.  Last night’s book club selection were works by Michael Pollan (Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food, Botany of Desire).  The discussion was about food sources and EVERYONE was knowledgeable about the subject. … read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/20/11 at 08:57 PM

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Recently while admiring a certain product at a store that sold high-end small appliances (as well as regular models), the shopper next to me said something like “Why would I pay that much for this item when I can buy 5 new ones for the same price.”  The more expensive brand of this product was superior in quality… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/13/11 at 08:39 PM

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Anyone who knows me well knows I enjoy good wine and I believe that life is too short to drink the cheap stuff - cheap being just below whatever I can afford.  I admit that, until recently, I haven’t raised a fuss about organic wines (or organic alcohol in general) because not many are offered in restaurants.  It… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/06/11 at 08:33 PM

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My employer maintains that if you make yourself do something regularly for a year, it will become a pattern in your life forever.  I agree and, for that reason, think New Year’s resolutions are a good thing.  My year of buying nothing new was a life changing event for me because I looked below the surface of consumerism… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/26/10 at 08:35 AM

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Next week I want to discuss New Year’s resolutions.  Many people don’t bother but I need the challenge of public declaration to keep my focus.  For now, however, let’s trash wisteria. 
For three week-ends in November, my husband and I worked very hard to eradicate the wisteria that has been consuming our property and taking on… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/15/10 at 04:36 PM

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My brothers and I make New Year’s resolutions every year.  We think it’s healthy to evaluate ourselves annually and attempt positive changes - even modest ones can make a difference. I’ll discuss it next week in detail when I am prepared to declare which of my many environmental flaws I need to tweak.  In the meantime, let’s trash… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/14/10 at 07:30 PM

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This is the 111th year of the Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count and, from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5, many volunteers take part in the effort and post their results with the Audubon Society.  I decided to do it because our small property is filled with a variety of bird species because it offers two basic necessities -… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/06/10 at 07:56 PM

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The world population is currently about 6.9 billion people - 60% live in Asia, 15% in Africa, 11% in Europe, 9% in Latin America/the Caribbean, 5% in North America, and about 1% live in Oceania.  In the early 1800s, upwards of 95% of Earth’s inhabitants lived in rural/farming areas and fed themselves but, by 2007, more than half… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/01/10 at 08:53 PM

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