Comments Annie Rosenthal has made

  • Sorry I wansn't very clear in that post.  I did not intend to imply that solar pool heating was a bad idea.  That was my folks' experience in the 70's and 80's.  I'm sure both the technology and fuel pricing has changed. 

    On Ask Umbra on solar pool heaters posted 4 months ago 9 Responses

  • My folks had a solar pool heater on the SF peninsula.  It worked great, but if you are thinking it's going to be a big savings you need to take into account other costs.  For them, their previous heater was natural gas, so when they installed the solar it took many more hours of pumping than it had in the past so their power bill actually went up. 

    On Ask Umbra on solar pool heaters posted 4 months ago 9 Responses

  • Ku don'ts

    Ya beat me to it

    Ann Rosenthal

    On ... and all we got were 'clean energy' promises ... posted 9 months, 1 week ago 5 Responses

  • Organic"ness"

    I think that the USDA "standard" is pretty much a farce.  However, some of the state standards (I am most familiar with the Oregon Tilth and CCOF Certified California -or is it California Certified?-Organic Farms.) do actually certify the farming practices to be sustainable and organic.  They are much more stringent than the national standard.  If you just want purely organic, the store brands are better than non-organic.  If you want to support sustainable ag and our planet, you have to get the real thing.    On Umbra on store-brand organics posted 11 months, 4 weeks ago 8 Responses

  • Dirty, Tree-hugging, Hippie

    Hi there.  I am a clean tree hugging hippie and proud of it.  My license plate is HIPPYMA, because I am.  Don't lower yourself.  That's only an insult because you allow it to be.  Honestly, it is hard for me to believe that anyone with half a brain could not understand that picking up trash and recycling is essential for the survival of the planet!!  You can do the right thing and be a role model without being preachy.  Go for it!On Umbra on deflecting eco-insults posted 1 year, 1 month ago 18 Responses

  • Voting

    You ROCK Umbra and you are so right.  At least if you vote you have a right to speak your mind publicly for or against whoever or whatever gets voted in.  Thanks!On Umbra on the importance of voting posted 1 year, 2 months ago 9 Responses

  • Diapers

    I am a confirmed cloth fan.  Regardless, I wonder why I don't see any comments about what disposable diapers do in terms of landfill space.  Also they are using up valuable resources and then just thrown into the landfill.  I get that people have been brainwashed into thinking that cloth diapers are hard to use, disgusting and gross, and generally impossible.  I bet those people have never tried cloth.  I used them for 2 kids and found them easier (truly) to use than disposables.  They compare more favorably with disposables, than line drying does to using a dryer.  Both are great for the environment.  Oh, and I confirm the earlier potty training.  On Umbra on the never-ending diaper ado posted 1 year, 4 months ago 25 Responses

  • Plastic wrapping

    I agree with Beth Terry.  I buy 7th generation 2 ply in the paper wrapped rolls at my local Coop (Davis, CA)  I've always wondered how the extra paper and slight extra hassle for the paper wrapped compares environmentally to the plastic wrapped ones?  On A review of recycled toilet-paper brands posted 2 years ago 21 Responses

  • trapping mice

    I think that letting mice loose is neither more humane, nor more ecologically sound.  There are several humane ways to euthanize mice. CO2 (dry ice) asphyxiation is easy on both the animal and the person performing the euthanasia.  The best way to keep the mice away is to get a cat.   On Umbra on live trapping posted 2 years, 1 month ago 28 Responses