When it comes to fashion and giving back to the environment, how do you know for sure that you are purchasing eco-friendly and sustainable products? If you ask me, it’s confusing to choose, let alone find, credible organic claims made by designers and brands. I love that there’s a label launching next year that the average consumer like myself will be able to easily recognize and trust: L.E.A.F. (Labeling Ecologically Approved Fabrics™).

WellWire sat down to chat with L.E.A.F. founder and executive director, Elinor Averyt and here’s what she had to say:

WellWire: Hello, Elinor! Thank you so much for giving us your time to do this interview. Can you tell us, in sum, what L.E.A.F. is all about?

Elinor: The overall purpose of L.E.A.F. is to provide the first comprehensive and unifying eco-labeling program for clothing sold in the United States.

WW: Tell us more about yourself, Elinor. Have you always been involved with the apparel industry? What is it about your own personality that you think inspired you to pursue this advocacy?

Elinor: Thank you for being interested. I started this project out of frustration with working on larger scaled societal issues at various non-profits in my 20’s and not seeing any definitive outcomes or results from pouring myself into these larger scaled problems.

I decided to take a step back and ask two questions: 1) What are the issues/problems keeping us stuck or sending us in negative directions as a society, and 2) What are catalysts we could put into place to help get some of these larger issues moving in new directions in a concrete, finite amount of time? Two issues that came to the forefront as continuing problems are both, 1) the lack of pervasive industry-wide accountability for depleting resources and pollution at a faster rate than the earth and its inhabitants can handle, and 2) the lack of pervasive consumer accountability for continuing this cycle by demanding low cost products (which are almost impossible to produce in environmentally and socially sensitive ways) and purchasing from companies creating problems in society.

The concept of eco-labels began to fascinate me as a potential, helpful solution to both of these problems to provide both marketplace inspiration to a given industry to clean up its ways, as well as to assist consumers with having an easier method to find and support the companies producing products in a more environmentally and socially sensitive manner.

That particular thought process is what basically landed me working on this project in the apparel industry.

WW: We understand that L.E.A.F. had just undergone its public review process. How can you describe the reception of the apparel industry and the general public to L.E.A.F.’s ideas? What was their primary concern, and how did L.E.A.F. respond to it?

Elinor: The public review was a success with over 150 participants. The premise of L.E.A.F. was generally received exceptionally well by the general public, and received with anticipated skepticism from industry stakeholders. You can see range of responses to the public review on our site, and you can access all comments and L.E.A.F. responses at the bottom of the home page.

WW: What makes this certification different from the already existing ecological programs in the US apparel industry?

Elinor: Thanks for asking for clarification on this issue. L.E.A.F. is actually not an official ‘certification’ program. Instead, L.E.A.F. is an umbrella eco-labeling program that, once launched, will communicate to the US consumers where a product has reached certain environmental and social achievements and certifications. This will occur by L.E.A.F. vetting which certifications have been reached within a product’s journey through its life cycle process.

Currently, there are certification programs that also have a consumer facing eco-label at the end of their certification process. However, due to the complexities of the apparel supply chain, it is difficult for any one standard or certification to cover a full range of inputs, processes and social issues addressed by the apparel industry’s complex and expansive life cycle.

Therefore,  L.E.A.F. aspires to end eco-labeling confusion in this industry by providing one unifying and comprehensive label to the US consumer that is inclusive of the valid certification programs that exist for this industry and that communicates the overriding certification history of any given product.

WW: L.E.A.F.’s label involves compliance with fair labor, organic/sustainable fibers and environmental manufacturing. In your opinion, what is the biggest issue in America today out of these three, if it’s possible to choose just one, of course.

Elinor: Although these are three major issues facing this industry, there are actually many diverse issues and impacts associated with this industry’s practices that extend beyond these ones.

These particular issues were chosen to launch the program as they have the most comprehensive certification programs in place to date (although Transfair USA will soon be launching its Fair Trade initiative for clothing sold in the United States).

It is difficult to make such a determination as each environmental and social issue associated with this industry’s life cycle, as each issue and its impacts are very complex, and each issue also seems to have equally important impacts to address and improve upon.

WW: What’s new with L.E.A.F. these days? How has it developed since the review process and what is your team currently up to?

Elinor: After the public review process, L.E.A.F. explored the potentials of new ownership taking control of the project, but was not successful in finding the right parent organization to take control of this situation. L.E.A.F. is now back full swing as its own, freestanding, small-scaled, non-profit organization that plans to grow in an organic manner. We are currently taking a three-pronged effort to get this program off the ground and launched to the marketplace. Our goal is that you will see L.E.A.F. labels in stores Spring 2011!

WW: Since L.E.A.F.’s efforts are still in the works and hasn’t been introduced in the marketplace yet, what can you recommend to our WellWire readers when it comes to making sure that they purchase products that fulfill L.E.A.F.’s ecological and social categories? What are the most common signs to look out for (i.e., similar to FDA-approved labels)?

Elinor: Well, right now, this is still a tricky task. The only certifications that back the organic claims made by designers and brands are the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and the Organic Exchange OE100 and Blended standards. If you see either of these certifications on a garment, you can trust the organic claim is valid. Currently, there are no consumer facing labels created by certification programs that communicate to consumers concerning social categories associated with this industry (i.e., fair trade and fair labor practices). I believe, however, Transfair USA will be launching their Fair Trade Certified™ program this fall 2010.

This is why L.E.A.F. aspires to launch as soon as possible, so that our program may hopefully serve in this capacity!

Karla Mercado lives in New Mexico and is the author of Balancing Tenderfoot. She is passionate about human medicine, nutrition, and writing.

A beautiful dome by Tend Living.

Meet my friend Britton Neubacher, founder of green-chic company Tend Living. Brit creates sustainable living sculptures that make you think twice about gardening, like the one above. What started as a small San Diego project has now transformed home and work spaces all over Southern California to reflect the native landscape in completely unique and beautiful ways. Read on!

Chrissy Dionese: I love the name! How did you come up with it?

Britton Neubacher: I was looking for a word that would suggest action as well as a descriptor for the larger goal: taking care of our planet. I wanted to highlight the fact that I work with sustainable practices that support life and one that sees plant tending as a lifestyle. People seem to like that part so it has become my DBA. More of the same good action!

CD: Tell me how the company got started, it was something of an art experiment wasn’t it?

BN: Tend began as a contribution to a sustainable design show at Design Within Reach in San Diego. My friend *forced* me into it and I was horrified, not able to see myself as an artist. I’m over that insecurity now though! The last thing Tend should be about is ego, so I try to leave self-consciousness out of the equation.

CD: Has sustainable living always been your way of life? How did your background in social justice influence your current inspiration?

BN: I think it has. I joined Greenpeace when I was eight and devoted my young life to environmental and animal activism, later, youth and women’s movements. My adult background is in crisis work with severely high-risk youth and community organizing around feminism and art activism. I have a graduate degree in women’s studies, which amazingly I was able to use for several years in the way of a career before I burned out.

CD: Why did you leave that industry?

BN: I’m really sensitive and didn’t practice enough self-care so I eventually had to accept that I was not a “lifer” in the helping industry. I think I made a little difference, at least I hope I did, but I feel so much more nourished and centered once I went with a more simple approach: to tend to the planet one plant friend at a time. It’s such a beautiful thing to assist a living being that naturally wants to thrive. People are too complicated and self-sabotaging for me! Also, I think plants bring people together in an unspoken language we all instinctively understand, so I actually feel more connected to people than ever now.

Britton Neubacher (on left).

CD: Some of us are new to interiorscaping, can you tell us a little about this type of design?

BN: Interiorscaping is the radical notion that people belong with plants. Really, it is just a fancy word for interior design through green and greenery. Placing plants in your living and work spaces provides aesthetic benefits and can combat rampant off-gassing known as “sick building syndrome.” It can even increase productivity. No environment is complete until it is supplied with life. Well-chosen and strategically-placed plants literally transform a space, and your life!

CD: How do you teach your clients and the community about the concepts of permaculture?

BN: I often plant on a graded arrangement (even in my orbs) so that the more water-loving plants will benefit from run-off of those needing less hydration. Terrariums are an excellent, semi self-sustaining eco-system in that the water requirements are greatly reduced and carbon dioxide usage is optimized. My goal is to make tending easy and fun so low-maintenance plants and plantings feed two birds with one hand, as they say. High-style permaculture with edibles may be the nest frontier for me!

CD: With all the water Southern California uses to keep green lawns alive, how will Tend’s creations influence a shift toward cultivating natural landscaping involving native plants that conserve water?

BN: I’m hoping my work will help shift people’s perspectives to see drought-tolerant plants as more interesting than they may have realized. It’s all about providing a format for the already-amazing-but-commonly-over-looked. I try to approach any landscaping that I do as a larger version of my miniature creations, so hopefully people will also see exciting landscaping opportunities from my mini plant worlds.

CD: Brit, you’re becoming popularly known with your eco-friendly wedding creations. Do you see sustainable “green” floristry lasting beyond a trend?

BN: It may be wishful thinking, but I really do. I’d like to believe a trend that has global meaning behind it is less likely to become a passing fad. Shift the individual perspective and the collective consciousness follows, right? I guess that’s what we would call evolution. Green weddings are necessary for our human evolution! Ooooh, I need to market that declaration!

CD: What can we expect from here? Any fun summer projects on the horizon?

BN: Only to expect the unexpected! I hope to always bring a freshness to green living (truly, the gardening puns are endless). I do have a very special on-line store planned for Summer and some thrilling collaborative projects in the works, including the release of “Golly Pods,” a living sculpture line with Jason Lane of Bells & Whistles. Stay tuned!

CD: What advice can you give to folks interested in learning how they can become more connected with the natural landscape in their locale?

BN: Get outside, shut up and be still! Seriously, just getting out of our heads is the first step, nature does the rest. Pay attention to how plants affect you and allow them to share their magic with you. Enjoy the discovery and the inherent connection as you wish each other well. Then tend to it.

Visit Tend’s blog and Facebook to see how Brit is changing the planet, “one plant friend at a time.”

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.

Photo by Peter.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day here in North America. The observance, introduced by US senator Gaylord Nelson, Harvard student Denis Hayes and well-known eco-activist Paul Erlich originated in the early 1970s during what the senator described as a crisis and call to global environmental awareness. Today, nearly 175 countries from all around the world celebrate this holiday by showing appreciation for environmental conscientiousness.

In light of the recent controversy surrounding the overstatement of global warming and discord among politicians I asked around, is Earth Day important? I spoke to students at US college campuses, parents of young children, a few of my patients and professional colleagues and here’s what thoughtful folks had to say:

Janesh, Los Angeles, CA, mother of two: The fact that we have more people than natural resources covering the globe has really pushed environmental consciousness into the mainstream. It’s no longer hippies and rich yuppies shopping at the farmer’s markets. I think earth day is important because it highlights the message that grassroots efforts really can make a big a ripple that flows far. If it weren’t for earth day my kids might not be eating the organic veggies and meat that are now abundantly available city-wide. 

Jamal C., Philadelphia, PA artist and student of urban development: Having lived in Philly my entire life we’re just now witnessing a major shift in community awareness. They’re still trying to figure out how to recycle in some parts, but without earth day our garbages and dumps would still be overflowing. It’s just too easy to recycle and reuse. Services should be available to every single person in America. 

Sintal G., Palm Beach, FL, father of three, astrophysicist: I’m a bit skeptical about earth day although at the end of the day it delivers an amazing message we’ve been building as a national community since the 1970’s. When organic food and healthy eating loses its somewhat elitist undertones and is readily available to all levels of society that will be the true celebration of earth day.

Liz B., London, UK, professor of agricultural studies: Being a mother of two little kids in an overcrowded city I try to celebrate earth day everyday with my boys. Joy is only three, but already knows what items go in the blue recycling box! I think getting your kids involved and exposed to all aspects of the community in which you live will help them understand the global message of protecting the planet as they grow. We’re celebrating this year by planting a new tree!

Kim P., San Francisco, expecting mother UCLA school of medicine: Is Earth Day important? Of course it is! Are people actually responding that it’s not? As population density keeps increasing, this observance is more important than ever. For a society that claims to have some of the best health care on the planet it’s ironic that we still have so many sick people here. The Earth Day message is one that makes us stop if only for a moment to remind us that health care is earth care!

Looking for a fun way to celebrate earth day?

• Plant a tree or garden with your kids.
• Replace your current cleaning products with eco-friendly choices
• Get friends together for a city-wide recycling clean up. Talk to people on the streets about what you’re up to
• Start taking shorter showers
• Participate in a learning activity about the environment at a local university or library
• Skip the plastic at the grocery store
• Ride your bike

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.

Photo by MissFikrah.

Follow the rose petal road for an eco-friendly DIY romantic getaway in your own house that starts om the dining room and ends in the bedroom.

First off, cook your sweetie a delicious Vegetable Puttanesca, fast enough to whip up in under an hour. There’s nothing more romantic than a hearty, gluten, egg, soy, and cow dairy free pasta dish that’s packed with nutrients and flavor. Decorate your dinner table with Sweet Basil Soy Candles by BsaB Candles for the appetizing scents of basil, tarragon, vetiver and cypress.

By Sweet n Sara.

After dinner, you continue to follow the rose petal road until you reach the Living Room Detour. Dessert time! Indulge in some Vegan Marshmallows by Sweet & Sara, 100% gelatin free, 100% vegan! Enjoy them with a cup of hot chocolate made with almond nut milk. Organic Jar shows how to make a quick and easy nut milk recipe on this webisode: How to Make a Nut Milk.

Set up a basket of organic bubble bath items (choose among three all-natural, eco-friendly bath treats care of green shopping site, Pristine Planet!). Will you choose an All Natural Chocolate Truffle Bath that is certified organic and biodegradable? Or maybe a Stress Relief Bath Tea that is organic and handmade? Perhaps you need something like Aching Body Bath Brews infused with peppermint, tangerine, rose geranium, eucalyptus, and other relaxing blends that will soothe your tired, aching body. Take your pick, and save the rest for another day!

By dMap.

After a luxurious, organic bath, you’re ready to go to bed. As you follow the remaining rose petals that lead to the final destination, you find that your little sleeping nook was transformed into a private spa! Natural Bamboo Candles by BsaB Candles surround your bed, and Essential Oils aromatherapy (also by BsaB Candles) fill the air. And the best part about your final destination? Massage therapy! You can find massage therapists that specialize in home visits, so set your private couples massage appointments now!

I hope you enjoyed WellWire’s Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt! Use these ideas to make V-Day eco-friendly and romantic for your partner, or just yourself. Much love to everyone!

Karla Mercado lives in New Mexico and is the author of Balancing Tenderfoot. She is passionate about human medicine, nutrition, and writing.

Photo by Debbie Schiel.

My favorite seed catalog came in today’s mail: organic Floriani red flint corn, green meat radish, Bolivian rainbow pepper, purple pac choy, ruby streaks mustard. These are the reasons I started gardening–I was awed by the incredible diversity of life I could sustain on my little corner of earth.

There were other reasons too. After my urban upbringing, I longed for the pastoral and bucolic ideal of self sufficiency and thriftiness. And certainly there were the political reasons: getting off the corporate-food trough while promoting biological diversity and personal health.

But what really pushed me past reading and into action was a full-color catalog that arrived one Winter’s day. I saw purple carrots, speckled lettuces, striped snappy string beans, and a bright orange tomato that turned out to be an eggplant! If your vegetable education came largely from mainstream supermarkets as mine once did, you’ll understand my shock. Who knew there were purple potatoes, or that we could grow Thomas Jefferson’s beans or the Anasazi’s corn?

These days I’m a passionate gardener and my garden supports over 100 species. Here’s why you should tend a garden, even if it’s just a couple of plants:

1. Get outdoors. Being outside can help many health conditions. The sunshine lightens most folks’ moods and helps produce immune-building Vitamin D. Researchers find that people living near green spaces have much lower rates of diseases including asthma, depression, heart disease, migraines, and even urinary-tract infections.
2. Eat healthier. At WellWire we’re always recommending that you eat the rainbow and gardening is one great way to do it. Vegetables begin losing nutritional value as soon as the plant is plucked and produce from your own garden travels the shortest distance between place and plate. Also, many soils around the country have some well known nutrient deficiency—in western Oregon it’s selenium—which you can address easily in your home garden. Feed your soil, feed your plants, feed yourself.
3. Love those vegetables. Gardening is a great way to convert knowledge about the health benefits of veggies into the action of eating them. Researchers consistently find that garden-based education in schools makes children more willing to try, like and eat a diversity of vegetables. The same trick works with picky adults, too…
4. Grow your own medicine. That lovely lavender you’re already growing can improve digestion and fight depression. Thyme makes a great ground cover and fights off lung infections. Garlic, onions and their relatives support the immune system and the heart. Even weedy dandelion is medicine, helping the liver and the kidneys. And so much of this is so easy to grow!
5. Be more community-oriented. Scientists have found that spending time outdoors changes people for the better. Read here about how gardening transformed the English town of Todmorden and its inhabitants, building food security, ecological sustainability and community spirit.
6. Pure joy. Part of a healthy life is making sure there’s joy in your life, every day. And that is one of the best reasons out there for gardening. For me, that’s about the wonder of nature’s colors and textures, and the sheer awe of actively and literally keeping history alive. And it’s a wonderful gift to share with your partner or kids.

So as the year’s darkest days settle in, take time by the real or virtual fire to go through the words and pictures of the seed catalogs and feed your dreams of summer. Here is a short list to get you started.

• Fedco Seeds, a Maine cooperative, offers great starter packets at fantastic prices.
• Horizon Herbs offers one of the largest selections of medicinal plant seeds.
• Native Seeds/SEARCH has a focus on traditional Southwestern crops including a huge variety of beans, corn and hot peppers.
• Seeds of Change was one of the first glossy proponents of growing heirloom seeds.
• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in Mansfield, Mo., boasts a catalog of 1400 varieties of vegetable and flower seeds.
• Heirloom Seeds in Pennsylvania.
• Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.

Happy garden planning!

Dr. Orna Izakson, ND, RH (AHG) is a naturopathic physician, herbalist, gardener and writer. She specializes in respiratory issues, mood and women's health at Celilo Natural Health Center in Portland, Oregon.

Photo by tijmen van dobbenburgh.

The media has propelled estrogen-mimicking chemical bisphenol A (BPA) to the forefront of health news. It’s ubiquitous, and it’s likely in your body.

The chemical, developed as an estrogen replacement, is commonly used to harden plastics such, most commonly polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It’s been linked to various cancers, diabetes, heart disease and digestive problems. The polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins are often used in plastic helmets and goggles, computers, kitchen appliances, medical devices, adult toys, and the packaging for some foods and drinks—including soda cans, water bottles and baby bottles. This month Consumer Reports and the watchdogs at the Milwaukee, Wisc., Journal Sentinel found BPA leaching into commercially canned foods (it’s in the lining).

And last week Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, told the Journal Sentinel that consumers should be concerned. Here’s a roundup that many products containing BPA, along with links to safer alternatives.

To learn more about BPA, read “Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Human Health, and the Promise of Green Chemistry” by Elizabeth Grossman.

So what’s a health-conscious person to do? Eat more fresh food, of course. Or preserve your own in good old-fashioned glass jar. Here are some books that will teach you to safely and easily preserve the summer’s bounty from your garden, farmer’s market or local store.

• Stocking Up, 3rd Edition, by Carol Hupping is one of the most recommended books on safe canning and includes great recipes.
• Wild Fermentation, by Sandor Katz focuses on fermentation as a preservation method.
• Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving, the US Department of Agriculture’s classic.

Canning is fun for the whole family, and the results can make thoughtful, thrifty holiday and hostess gifts. It’s also clearly the healthiest choice.

Dr. Orna Izakson, ND, RH (AHG) is a naturopathic physician, herbalist, gardener and writer. She specializes in respiratory issues, mood and women's health at Celilo Natural Health Center in Portland, Oregon.

Photo by JelleS.

WellWire went interactive to test your MooQuotient on Twitter and asked some controversial questions about how livestock is raised and farmed. In a nutshell we asked, do you know where that steak was before it landed on your plate?

Still want a chance to see your MQ? Visit our Twitter feed and test your smarts now! Already took the quiz? See how your MooQuotient rates below!

Here’s what we discussed

Antibiotic and Hormone Use In Commercial Farming

Would you like a “complimentary” dose of antibiotics in your food? Although popular in large commercial farming, the use of antibiotics and hormones in livestock goes far beyond the farmer’s field. You’ve heard the saying, “we are what we eat;” this couldn’t ring more true when we eat meat from cows that have been treated with antibiotics and hormones. While the price tag might be lower at your grocer’s counter, the expense is experienced as a weakening of our natural immune defenses. Reserve antibiotic use for serious illness and decrease your chances for developing antibiotic resistance.

Cows a Grazin’?

Ever seen a commercial livestock farm? Hope you like your neighbors, because you’re close, very close. Commercial farming lines up their cows side by side with only a fractional amount of space to divide them.

Need more of a visual? Cows to the side, food to the front, and you know what in the back. This means your steak was eating and excreting all within 3 feet! Farmers state the case that treating their livestock with antibiotics preventively will reduce the likelihood of cross-contamination. Hmmm?

Cows raised in a sustainable environment are free to roam, moo, and eat naturally; enjoying a more ethical and humane way of life. These grazers also provide us with the healthiest cuts of meat. Consuming organic meat offers into our diets essential omega fats as well as a great source of vitamin E.

Going Organic

We all want delicious, good for us food, yet selections that don’t make a huge dent to our pocketbooks. The impact of spending more now will be seen later as an investment into your health and well-being. Considering the hidden costs of conventional foods, organic is likely cheaper in the long run.

Visit the Organic and Natural Experience to learn more about how your family can go organic today!

Want to weigh in on this topic? Drop by WellWire’s Facebook page to share your insights or start a discussion with other fans.

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.

Photo by Xray Delta 1.

I make my own cleaning products here in sunny San Diego. Why? I live just a few blocks from the ocean and I often see my die-hard surfer friends in the water, rain or shine. After each rainfall they tend to get sick because everything we put down our drains really does end up downstream.

The next time you’re about to pour, flush, or dump anything down the drain, consider this: 260 contaminants have been found in US drinking water, with less than half of these adhering to any safety standards. Ken Cook at the Environmental Working Group notes that 41 of these contaminants come from the chemical laden products we use in our homes! Organizations like Ken’s and The Surfrider Foundation offer the most current research on protecting our water supplies.

It’s easier than you may think to keep our water clean though! One of the best eco-friendly impacts you can make is deciding what you choose to put down your drain. Treating your water right at home equals improved water quality down at the ocean.

Keep these simple rules in mind when making your eco-friendly cleaning supply purchases:

• Go for plant based compounds that are dye and parfum free
• Look for a neutral ph
• Choose products that are labeled “readily biodegradable” and have been packaged in recyclable materials
• Visit Debra’s List where she rates all natural cleaning supplies based on ingredients as well as getting the job done!

Make your own and get your mad eco-scientist on!

Remember that vinegar and baking soda volcano you made explode in the 5th grade? For less than twenty bucks, you can purchase all the goodies required to blend up your own personal batches of eco-friendly cleaning supplies!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 bag of lemons
• 1 large box of baking soda
• 1 large bottle of white vinegar
• Distilled H20
• Dry salt
• Dr. Bronner’s castille soap
• Old toothbrushes and small soft scrub brushes

The Formulas: Grab Your Apron

• For kitchen bathroom and tile floors: Add 1/2 cup of baking soda and the juice of 2 lemons to 1 quart of boiling water.
• For grout: Same as tile floor recipe plus 1/2 cup of salt
• For glass: Combine the juice of 2 lemons with 1 pint of white vinegar
• For drains: Pour 1 cup of baking soda into the drain immediately followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Allow to fizz then add another 1/ cup of vinegar. Finish with 2 quarts of hot water.
• For clothing stains: Put 1 cup of room temperature distilled water in a dish and put 1/4 cup of baking soda in a different dish. Scrub the two into the stain, gently, with a brush. Rinse off with warm distilled water.
• For wooden furniture: Mix 2 Tablespoons of Dr. B’s soap with 4 cups of warm distilled water.

Happy cleaning!

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.

Photo by webwebwork.

While taking the first day tour of my new office 2 years ago, I immediately noticed the space was sans recycling bin. Hang with me for a day and you’ll notice I recycle everything I can, even the toilet paper rolls. I’ve been known to walk out of my hotel room carrying the recyclables if they don’t offer a separate bin in my room! So, you can probably guess what I did on day 2 at the new office. Here’s a guide to starting a recycling program at your own office or practice:

1. Nominate yourself head of the recycling crew and put a smile on your face. Ignore any eye-rolling as you may encounter “resisters.” Don’t worry, they’ll catch on. Helping is a contagious act and helping behavior to benefit the group will increase your sense of belonging and accomplishment.

2. Give everyone an opportunity to recycle. Obtain and strategically place boxes or bins in several locations so that each person in the office has the opportunity to recycle. Key locations are the copy and fax area along with the kitchen and break rooms. Tip: Show fellow employees the personal smaller box you keep below your desk to be taken to the larger bins at the end of the day or week.

3. Label each bin by placing signs for all to see. How you decide to disperse the bins will help you decide what goes where. Some cities require recycling separation. This would require you to make a separate bin for paper, cans and bottles, plastic, and cardboard paper. Remember, recycling is supposed to be easy, so help everyone out by making labels to ensure the correct items correspond to the bins. Tip: You can quickly go online to see what your city or waste management department requires by visiting your local chamber of commerce.

4. Reuse bin. Want to be a shining example of how your company can start saving on the supply end? Place two bins in the copy and fax area. One labeled “double sided paper only” and the other labeled “one sided paper only.” At the end of the week, grab two co-workers excited about recycling and make recycled note-pads. All you’ll need is 15 minutes and the office paper cutter. Cut the remaining one-sided sheets into 4 or 6 squares and voila, note-pads to replace sticky notes. To encourage their use the first week, kindly hand out to other employees and leave a small box with extras located in the copy and fax area.

More tips:

Have a friendly chat with the maintenance or house-keeping crew. Ask them not to empty your garbage unless there is food or it’s full to the top. You can also arrange a simple system similar to the “bra on the hotel room door trick.” If it’s ready to be taken away then tie the bag closed before leaving the office. If it still has room, simply leave it un-tied.

After you’ve put it all in place, I’ll let you borrow my soapbox so you can let everyone know what’s up with recycling in the office! Keep it simple and cheerful, show everyone how easy it is, let them know you’ve labeled everything, and then welcome any questions.

To increase the effectiveness of your plan, encourage fellow employees to only place food and perishable items in the receptacles located within the dining and kitchen areas. It’s okay to eat at your desk still, just walk it over to the other room once finished.

At the end of the first week, take a look in your regular garbage can. If it’s only half full you’re doing a great job! Just to double check, look into your garbage and fish out any plastic or other potentially recyclable items!

Most cities allow and encourage you to recycle the following:

• newspapers
• printed papers
• sticky note paper
• labels
• plastic bottles and containers (see which numbers your city accepts)
• plastic lids from coffee cups
• cardboard coffee cups
• cardboard insulator surrounding coffee cups
• coffee tray/holders
• plastic utensils
• toilet and paper towel rolls
• pizza boxes
• paper bags
• glass bottles and broken glass
• aluminum cans

Feeling crafty?

Recycle your old mailing boxes into next year’s office planner!

Does your company recycle their ink cartridges, computers, and cellular phones?

Most major manufacturers offer complimentary recycling packages that arrive with your new cartridges and mobile phones.  Just fill up the recycling bag with your old cartridges and mail the package on them! Staples offers a cool program called Staples Soul to recycle your technological relics.

When we associate positive future value with our actions, you can see how the possibilities become limitless! So make your best effort and see how the effects will be successfully contagious!

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.