365 Days, 365 Ways...To Go Green

Yesterday my daughter bought 2 blow up rafts for the pool, brought them home, blew them up and tossed them in the pool. In a few minutes she was sunning herself floating in the pool on one of the rafts. Then I saw the rafts tossed on the lawn. It seems the rafts smelled to badly that they couldn't use them.

The smell came from the toxic chemicals used to make the PVC vinyl soft and pliable. We will be replacing the floating PVC pool toys with noodles and have learned a valuable lesson.

Which is exactly what the pool store manager said when I asked him if the diatomaceous earth we use in our pool filter was safe. Yes, I had a very shocked look on my face. I know the diatomaceous earth we use in our pool filter is not the food grade D.E. that is used to kill insects but with no warnings on the packaging I had assumed it was safe.

So what is the difference between pool and food grade D.E. I had some research to do. I found out that pool grade D.E is chemically treated and partially melted. It contains crystalline silica which is an inhalant hazard and we never wore a mask when we added D.E to the filter.

We purchased an alternative called Fiber Clear which is the 'non-toxic' alternative. It is cheaper, easier to use and is environmentally friendly. It's also harmless to fish. Not a problem that I know of in Arizona but I used to live near Lake Superior so I like that the product won't pollute our streams and lakes.

Am I happy? I am glad I asked the question. I don't just assume now that I am trying to live a greener lifestyle however I have to admit that the answers always seem to shock me. If I were a pool store manager would I want my customers to know that there was a safer product on the market and not wait for them to ask?

Am I satisfied? Not yet. I looked up Fiber Clear on the web and there wasn't a lot of data available so I wrote to the company asking for ingredients, manufacturing details and a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the product. Being green simply means being more aware!

My office chair fell apart a few months ago and when I have time I've been looking for a reasonably priced replacement. I really loved the concept of the ball chair but it would kill my budget so I kept looking. Since I didn't have a chair I became an expert at working with my laptop on my lap but it also meant that I would get very comfortable and find myself napping instead of working.

This week I found myself in Target looking for a birthday gift for a friend and there was my ball chair for $21.00. Actually it was an exercise ball. I noticed Greg from the Urban Farm using an exercise ball in lieu if the more expensive ball chair a few months ago so I decided I would give it a try.

It works great at 1/4 of the cost. Plus if I get bored I can work on my abs! It is supposed to, however, release spinal pressure, encourage spinal alignment and increase circulation and energy. I was a 'slumper' in my office chairs and that does not happen on a ball chair. It's much more comfortable than I expected so problem solved. Thanks, Greg for an awesome idea.

When I bought my office chair I also purchased new chair cushions for my lawn furniture. They were on sale and my cushions were so old they were shredding.

I Iove my new cushions but what to do with the old ones. A few years ago I wouldn't have given tossing them into the trash a second thought but that was then and now I'm trying to be more responsible about trying to find a re-use solution. They weren't good enough for FreeCycle or Craig's List so what to do?

My dog solved the problem for me when I saw her cozied up on one of the cushions after her swim. I took them apart, sewed covers for them from old towels I have been saving and gave them to a pet shelter! Problem solved and the pet shelter was thrilled with their new doggie beds.

So think before you toss someone may benefit from your 'treasures'.