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| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
Gray Water's Anatomy
On channeling gray water to the garden |
Umbra Fisk |
04 May 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, As part of my water-conservation strategy, I'd like to reuse the rinse water from my laundry machine to water the native plants, many of them edible, in my yard. I've heard concerns about the soap (biodegradable) damaging the plants. There are also potentially some regulatory hurdles involved. Can you shed some light on this? Thanks, Wendy Gray All the Way Seattle, Wash. Dearest Gray All the Way, ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, gardening, green living (all these topics) |
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Fisk Tested, Mother Approved
On conserving water |
Umbra Fisk |
31 Mar 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Twenty years ago, I lived off the grid and learned how to conserve water. That lesson stayed with me, and it's agonizing for me to witness the cavalier, wasteful treatment of precious freshwater. My elderly mother moved in with me two years ago, and all is lovely and fine, except that she wastes more water with basic household activities than any single individual I've ever seen. Do you have any suggestions on ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, waste (all these topics) |
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Got Money?
On spending wisely to help the environment |
Umbra Fisk |
10 Mar 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I read your column on how best to spend six hours of time a week on environmental issues, but how about the best way to spend limited financial resources on environmental issues? Obviously, giving a gift to Grist would help, but what can I do with my limited pocketbook to make the most difference on a daily basis? Chris Kent, Wash. Dearest Chris, Save up your money and use it to replace an inefficient bu ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, cars, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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Mold School
On bathroom mold |
Umbra Fisk |
28 Feb 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Do you have any tips on dealing with the nasty black mold that appears in bathrooms without dousing it in highly toxic chemicals? Kirsten Dearest Kirsten, I read that hydrogen peroxide would work, so I tried it for you in the Grist Test Bathroom. The recommendation was to dilute the solution in a spray bottle, spritz the mold, then return a few hours later to wipe it away. It didn't work. But my control mold is deeply embedded wi ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green cleaning, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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E-Crush Into Me
On Umbra's romantic availability |
Umbra Fisk |
14 Feb 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I love all your research and cool little notes on Grist. Lots of learning! You must really love your job. I know this sounds weird, but I wish I could see a picture of you. I am intuitive by nature, and I respect what you are doing. I wish you all the best. Keep it up! Peace, Christopher P.S. Are you single? Dearest Christopher and the many, many others who have written similar notes, Thank you very, very muc ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living (all these topics) |
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Got Time?
On effective activism |
Umbra Fisk |
07 Feb 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, If an environmentalist has about six hours per week to devote to activism, what should the person do to make the biggest, most positive impact? Some people (like myself) think that climate protection is a key leverage point -- but is it? If yes, why, and what is the best way activists can help protect the climate? (And what's a leverage point anyway?) Ann Graton, Calif. Dearest Ann, Such a good question, and so important that ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, climate, grassroots activism, green living, NRDC, placemaking (all these topics) |
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What Is This 'Print' You Speak of?
On environmental print magazines |
Umbra Fisk |
03 Feb 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| What Is This "Print" You Speak of? On environmental print magazines By Umbra Fisk 03 Feb 2005 Dear Umbra, Can you recommend a paper magazine dedicated to environmental/social-justice issues that has the same kind of light touch and zany humor that Grist has? I've found that getting really good reading material into the house and just leaving it around is a sure way to hook my two children, who are both avid readers. They're both computer literate, but won't go to a website I recommend, ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, education, green living, magazines (all these topics) |
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Bag Lady
On reusable recycling bags |
Umbra Fisk |
27 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I am the cofounder and current president of the Recycling Club at R.L. Paschal High School in Fort Worth, Texas. We have started collecting cell phones and plan to donate them to Verizon, since they refurbish and recycle or sell them. With the money they make, they buy new ones with airtime for (in our town) ladies at the Women's Haven shelter. We plan to start recycling plastics too. I need a bag for all this paper. Anywa ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, education, green living, recycling (all these topics) |
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Lather, Rinse, Rethink
On making eco-friendly cleaning products |
Umbra Fisk |
24 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I'd like to start making my own environmentally friendly cleaning products for my home. Are there any books or websites you would recommend for cleaning "recipes"? Rachel P.S. -- Thanks ever so much for your mention of the Keeper in one of your columns. Quite possibly the most useful device ever invented. Why aren't more people talking about this? Dearest Rachel, Go, Keeper, go! You'll ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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Unholy Cow
On leather upholstery |
Umbra Fisk |
20 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, It seems everyone is getting leather upholstery in their cars and on their couches these days. Where is it coming from -- the same cows that are being slaughtered for hamburgers, or special cows that are raised for their hides? What is the environmental impact of all this luxurious leather? Sharon Collegeville, Penn. Dearest Sharon, Hides are a byproduct of food-related animal processing. Cattle are large, expensive animals, ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food and agriculture, green living, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Pollut ... Oh, Never Mind
On the outcome of the last pollutocrat contest |
Umbra Fisk |
18 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, So, what were the results of the "pollutocrat" contest? I recall seeing several web postings by editors to "watch out" for this term, as if the rest of a letter's content was somehow invalid if it was written as part of a contest. Sad. Did someone win or not? Kevin Parma, Ohio Dearest Kevin, I get hundreds of email letters every month, and can answer only eight (giv ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living (all these topics) |
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Sorry, Wrong Number
On which plastics to avoid |
Umbra Fisk |
13 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Since you only mention #1 plastics as being safe, I'm assuming I should throw out the #4 I just purchased? Sylvia Ann Arbor, Mich. Dearest Sylvia, I confused and frightened and annoyed many of you on the issues of food and plastic. I'm sorry -- #4 is OK, as are #2 and #5. Honestly, I can hardly keep the numbers straight myself. I thought about a rhyme ("four and two are fine for you"), but I can't com ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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Nalgene Therapy
On plastic water bottles, again |
Umbra Fisk |
10 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, After slurping away from a Nalgene bottle all summer, you struck me with the fear of petrochemicals. So I did some quick research on my own. My conclusion is that your Aug. 2 column is misleading, even though I'm very sympathetic to your argument regarding plastics. Upon inspection, I learned that most of my Nalgene water bottles are made of plastic #2, HDPE, which you suggest is relatively benign. Perhaps you ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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O, Say, Can You Tree?
On Christmas trees |
Umbra Fisk |
08 Dec 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Please settle our office dispute. Which is better for the environment: real or fake Christmas trees? Some believe that cutting down juvenile trees, displaying them for two weeks, then throwing them in the garbage is destructive, wasteful, and highly unfriendly to the environment. Others say that the Christmas-tree business keeps land that would otherwise be developed in trees, if only for a short while. Besides, fake ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, religion and spirituality (all these topics) |
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Urine Trouble
On cat-pee stains and dry cleaning |
Umbra Fisk |
02 Dec 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I am aware of how polluting regular dry cleaners can be and therefore make a point to wash clothes at home. Recently, however, my charming cat peed on my comforter. I was wondering if you knew of any environmentally friendly ways to clean "dry clean only" clothes or, in this case, comforters. Heidi Falls Church, Va. Dearest Heidi, I've seen feather comforters with both dry-cleaning and home-washer o ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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Doo-lemma
On doggie-doo bags |
Umbra Fisk |
29 Nov 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, For years, I faithfully brought my canvas bags to the grocery store, leaving plastic bags for the environmentally uninformed. A few months ago, though, I adopted a dog, and I now find myself with a dilemma. I need to pick up all of his solid excrement, and having no compost or any other area for it to go (I live in the city), I need to use plastic bags to take care of it. I hope you have another suggestion for something I can use ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, solid waste treatment and disposal, waste (all these topics) |
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A Mandate for All Seasons
On the health/environment dividing line |
Umbra Fisk |
15 Nov 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Yowza. A few weeks back, in response to a question from a reader named Cassandra about the relative merits of soy milk, I asked your opinion on the dividing line between health and environmental concerns. Cassandra wanted to know if she could continue eating soy, which she considered an environmentally sound choice, without increasing her risk of breast cancer. The health/environment line is always ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, health (all these topics) |
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What the Deck?
On protecting decks |
Umbra Fisk |
25 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Chip, You may remember me; we met most recently at Jenny's parents' house for dinner when you all were here in New Jersey. Anyway, the reason I'm writing you is because I'm looking for some advice. Do you have any recommendations on environmentally conscious ways to protect household decks? Lori and I just bought a house and we need to finish the deck, but we are hesitant to use a bunch of chemicals that will just seep into the gr ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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PLU Perfect
On the mysteries of produce code numbers |
Umbra Fisk |
11 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I recently learned that the UPC numbers on produce indicate whether the item is conventionally grown (beginning with a 4), organically grown (beginning with a 9), or genetically modified (beginning with an 8). I like to buy organic, locally grown produce at my local health food store whenever possible, but recently at a large grocery story I noticed some tomatoes with a UPC number that began with a 3. What ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food, food and agriculture, GMOs, green living, organic food (all these topics) |
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Everybody Must Get Hemp
On hemp fabric |
Umbra Fisk |
04 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, You didn't mention hemp as a fabric alternative. Jordan Marquette, Mich. Dearest Jordan, No, I didn't. Thank you for writing such a concise letter; it stood out among the 4 million other hemp letters and cut straight to the point. I apologize for the omission. Hemp is currently a narrowly available fabric with a prohibitively high cost and a limited fashion palette. That said, it holds a lot of promise as a high-yield ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, fashion, food and agriculture, green living (all these topics) |
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The Brush-Off
On our 'throw it away' culture |
Umbra Fisk |
30 Sep 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| On our "throw it away" culture By Umbra Fisk 30 Sep 2004 Dear Umbra, I hope I am not the only person who is disgusted with and frustrated by the current "throw it away" philosophy that so many large companies are pushing. Everything from window cleaner to facial wipes is being sold in single-use packages. Why? Don't these companies and consumers realize that, for one thing, landfill capacity is becoming an endangered species? Then there is the toilet brush w ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, waste (all these topics) |
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Ay, There's the Stub
On recycling pencil stubs |
Umbra Fisk |
27 Sep 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I'm looking for a place that accepts pencil stubs (one to two inches long) to recycle into new pencils. I've found recycled pencils online -- made from denim, plastic, recovered wood, and paper currency. But what can I do with my stubs? Phoenix Covington, Ky. Dearest Phoenix, All the waste-reduction tips tell you to stop using wooden pencils, but that doesn't help with the ones you already have. Plus wooden pen ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, recycling, waste (all these topics) |
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My Left Footprint
On ecological footprints |
Umbra Fisk |
09 Sep 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I just took the Ecological Footprint Quiz, feeling rather confident that I've been doing my part to minimize my personal impact on environmental despoliation. But my results weren't reassuring. My ecological footprint is nine acres, which is much better than the U.S. national average of 24 acres per person, but still twice what the planet could sustain. In short, the quiz tells me, if everyone lived like me, we woul ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, ecological footprint, green living (all these topics) |
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Energy Asterisk
On Energy Star labels |
Umbra Fisk |
23 Aug 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, When I see the Energy Star rating on an appliance, can I trust that some government or consumer group is monitoring the ratings, or is that just a commercial ploy? Who profits from the Energy Star thing? Not Starry-Eyed Bridgewater, N.J. Dearest Not Starry-Eyed, A green screen. Photo: EnergyStar.gov. Energy Star is a project of our very own U.S. EPA, with assistance from the Department of Energy. Products that meet Ener ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, Department of Energy, energy, energy efficiency, green living, US EPA (all these topics) |
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Ms. Big Stuff
On the most effective personal eco-actions |
Umbra Fisk |
05 Aug 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, A lot of the questions people ask you ultimately involve pretty negligible results. When you are talking about the balance sheet of the world, does it really matter if I use a more or less environmentally responsible solution to wash my fruit? I'm wondering what three major concrete changes you'd recommend that people make, which might be more difficult to implement than using lower-energy lightbulbs b ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living (all these topics) |
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