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The Scoop on Dog Poop

Danielle Davis — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:01:29 +0000

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The late Harvey Milk’s dog poop campaign wasn’t just good politics. Yes, we all hate happening on a pile of it on our neighborhood walks, but it’s more than unsightly, it’s bad for people and the planet. I went to Jessica Belsky, Heal the Bay’s Communications Manager, for the full scoop.

I think we all know what not to do with dog waste–leave it on the street or in grassy areas. So, why not? What’s the problem with that and how does it specifically affect our waterways?

Well, aside from the obvious — someone might step in it, there are water quality problems associated with not picking up the doo. Pet waste contains a lot of bacteria. During a rainstorm, all of that un-picked-up poo and its associated bacteria, heads with the rain water directly down a storm drain, you know, those drains on the street curbs. These drains don’t end in any kind of treatment plant, they lead to the ocean or to another body of water (which in turn leads to the ocean). So, unless you want to swim with the poo, pick it up! It doesn’t necessarily take a rainstorm either. Think about your neighbor hosing off his driveway or someone watering her lawn. If the doggy pile gets left on the ground, it’s eventually swimming. It’s not just gross, it can also make you sick. Skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, flu like symptoms and GI problems-all possible side effects from swimming in bacteria-laden water. That’s not a nice way to end your weekend at the beach.

What’s the difference between animals leaving their excrement, say on the forest floor, and dogs leaving theirs in the city?

The number of dogs in our concentrated area is huge. For example, Los Angeles County has over 12 million people. Think, if only a quarter of those people have a dog as a pet, that’s over 3 million dogs. There are not that many natural large mammals living in Los Angeles County collectively (deer, mountain lions, bears, etc). Additionally, think of all of the pavement in the city. Cement leaves nowhere for the waste to go but eventually down the storm drain.

What’s the scoop on what dog owners and dog walkers should do with dog poop in Los Angeles? What’s the best thing to do? Is there a runner up best thing to do?

This is a tough question. Picking up the poo is most important. From there, you have a few options. You can use a plastic bag and throw it in the trash can. Many people reuse small bags, such as from a newspaper or even a produce bag. It’s really easy to bring a bag these days, a bag container can link right on to your dog’s leash. There are actually a few alternatives to plastic bags as well. I have seen dog waste “boxes” made of cardboard that will break down once in a landfill. I have some friends with small dogs that actually flush the poo down the toilet in some TP or in specially made septic safe doggie flush bags. However, this comes with its own problems in an area like L.A. where water is in shorter supply. Burying the poo, say in your garden for example (but away from food crops), is another option. Google “dog poop composting.” People really do it. Basically, the closer you can get the doo disposal to its origins, the more environmental it will be.

Any other tips for pet owners doing our part to help clean up the ocean in our own backyards?

Having a dog as a pet is very rewarding but also comes with a lot of responsibility.

In addition to knowing the scoop on all things dog, Heal the Bay is doing important work for the ocean. If you’re heading to the beach this weekend, check out its Beach Report Card before you dive in. And find out other ways to get your feet wet volunteering.

Jessica Belsky grew up surfing in and around Daytona Beach, FL. After earning her degree in English from the University of Miami, her life-long interest in ocean conservation and eco-issues led her to Los Angeles where she quickly became an avid volunteer with Heal the Bay’s Speaker’s Bureau program. Jessica is now Heal the Bay’s Communications Manager. She still enjoys volunteering in her free time at a bevy of both environmental and animal rescue events. A “pound puppy” advocate since a teenager, in addition to volunteering, Jessica frequently fosters shelter dogs in her apartment and owns a rescued stray hound mix, Bosco, who now lives (very well) with her family in Florida.

Images via PlanetGreen and Jessica Belsky

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More L.A. Food Trucks

Connie Wu — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:01:58 +0000

Vroom vroom! Us Angelenos are always on the go, so is it any surprise that food on trucks is a culinary staple in a city of commuters?

We’re especially happy about the sustainable food trucks that have parked their mobile kitchens at L.A. sidewalks and parking lots throughout this city. We’ve rounded up a few worth adding to our original list from this summer.

Gastro Bus

http://www.thegastrobus.com

Farmer’s market inspired menus each week give the Gastro Bus a place on our list. We’re especially fans of the organic shakes and the seasonal menus happening every Sunday at the Los Feliz Farmer’s Market.

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Cafe Nagomi

http://www.cafenagomi.com

An organic Japanese seafood restaurant on wheels, this truck travels throughout the Westside to deliver organic seafood, gyoza, Miso soup, veggie dishes, and more. Meals are around $13 for a combo, including an entree, two side dishes, soup, salad and rice.

Franken Stand

http://www.myspace.com/TheFrankenStand

Though they don’t claim to be organic (as far as we could see – their website is a nearly unreadable MySpace page), Franken Stand delivers vegan sausages throughout LA – a great alternative for vegan food truck chasers!

Organic to Go

http://www.organictogo.com/

With a name as straightforward as it comes, this organic cafe’s catering truck delivers its organic sandwiches, soups and salads all over Los Angeles.

The Sweets Truck

http://www.thesweetstruck.com/

Taking Sweets to the Streets and giving back to the community while they’re at it is what this truck is all about. Not only does the Sweet Truck provide delicious sweets around town. They give back percentages of their sales to organizations that make a difference.

Want to know if any of these sustainable food trucks are in your area? Check out their websites for full schedules, menus, Twitter names and contact info.

Also be sure to check out the latest one stop shop for all your LA Food Truck action and Twitter feeds at www.findlafoodtrucks.com and keep on truckin’!

Images via California Taco Trucks and Eat To Blog

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Green Home Remodel: What’s So Green About it Anyway?

Candice Dickens-Russell — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:00:31 +0000

Candice is writing a green home remodel series for YDT as she fixes up her first home. Read part three of her quest: “Ditching the Dumpster.”

What does green really mean when it comes to home design and décor? Is it only in the ways things are made or also what they’re made of? Is the table made of sustainable bamboo greener than the bookshelf rescued from the landfill and restored with eco-friendly wood stain? What about the stuff you didn’t buy? Can a lack of clutter make a room greener?

My husband, Scott, and I ask ourselves these questions all the time as we strive to keep our green promises and create eco-friendly home décor. We’ve decided that for us, an item is green as long as we’ve made a commitment to protecting the environment in choosing it. It’s all about consciousness. If each piece is chosen with the environment in mind then, in the end, we will have a green room.

Our sustainably-designed, harvested and manufactured items are green because of their natural materials and companies’ commitment to environmental protection. Our locally-crafted items purchased for their proximity are green because we save shipping emissions. Things we’ve refurbished or reused are also green because we’ve kept them out of the landfill.

That said, here is a first look at our green home interior starting with the living room. Enjoy!

100% bamboo window shades.
Solid wood furniture purchased at an estate sale.
Energy Star florescent lamps from Southern California Edison’s lamp exchange.
Energy Star rated LG TV.
VOC-free Harmony brand primer & paint base from Sherwin Williams.
Linoleum tile–a natural product made from linseed oil.
100% jute rug.
Ikea coffee table & TV stand made in part with FSC certified hardwoods & Ikea’s strict requirements for wood suppliers

Eco-design questions for Candice? Leave them in the comments.

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reMade: Leather Jacket=Purse

Connie Wu — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:04:28 +0000

Remember when you used to rock that awesome leather jacket and you thought it was the coolest thing you owned and wore it to death? Nowadays, it sits in a box in the attic or in the back of your closet, lonely and unworn, and yet, you just can’t part ways with it.

With reMade, there might still be hope for your jacket. The San Francisco-based design company reMade “upcycles” used leather clothing and scraps to make one-of-a-kind handbags, clutches, and totes. They source their leather from thrift stores as well as furniture and automotive upholstery industry scraps, and use beautiful vintage scarves for the handbag linings. You can even send in your own jacket to make a custom order bag!

Shannon South started reMade when she got frustrated as a designer with creating more products, which felt excessive when considering the state of the planet and its landfills. Her conscience

pricked, she went to her local Goodwill store, found a leather jacket and used it to make a purse. Pleased with the results, she went on to create more used leather bags, each with the slight imperfections and signs of wear from its past life that make her designs so intriguing.

We love the fashion-forward Ashbury tote, with a cool zipper accent at the front, and a big, slouchy shape. The Alameda clutch is perfect for a night out, and the Bernal tote is ideal as a weekend bag. We love them even more knowing these purses were beloved leather jackets in a past life, and now they get a second chance!

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Green Home Remodel: Ditch the Dumpster

Candice Dickens-Russell — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:51:00 +0000

Candice is writing a green home remodel series for YDT as she fixes up her first home. Read part two of her quest-an eco-friendly yard-here. I’m not proud of it, but before moving into our 1940s fixer, my husband, Scott, and I had the words ORDER DUMPSTER at the top of our remodeling list. Not very green of us right?

Most cities will rent commercial-sized dumpsters to homeowners when traditional-sized municipal garbage cans won’t cut it. Having purchased a house that included one rotten wood deck, two rickety storage buildings, a bizarre wood burning spa, any piece of furniture the previous owners didn’t feel like packing and what can only be described as miles and miles of wood paneling, we were only too happy to make those arrangements. But I simply couldn’t ignore that I was about to generate hundreds if not thousands of pounds of waste for the landfill.

I had to come up with something else.

Finding someone who actually wants what you consider trash is an interesting exercise. After a bit of success with the Salvation Army and no luck at all with used lumberyards, finally I turned to Craigslist. I contacted more than a dozen individuals looking for scrap wood-everyone from a woman building a dance floor for her upcoming birthday party to a guy getting a jumpstart on a haunted house for Halloween. They came over one by one and hauled away a piece of the shed or the deck or the paneling to put to good use.

Turning to Craigslist once more I held what I think is the world’s first Free Driveway Bazaar. 67 strangers converged upon our little house in one day in search of treasure amidst our trash. Now we were getting somewhere. Gone were the terracotta flowerpots and garden hoses and I happily waved goodbye to outdated furniture that simply didn’t fit in my eco-modern cottage.

I would like to write that in the end we didn’t need to throw anything away, but that wouldn’t be true. Who knew no one would want that rotten wood? After weeks of hoisting junk into the grateful arms of my new Craigslist friends, we ended up ordering a bin that was significantly smaller than the one originally planned for the leftovers. But I’m happy that I took the time to give things away and decrease my landfill contribution by more than ½ thereby keeping another of our green promises: reducing waste.

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Destinations to help you ditch the dumpster:

Craiglist L.A.
Freecycle
Earth 911
Salvation Army
Goodwill
L.A. ReUseIt Network
Oodle.com

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Interview With Deborah Lindquist

Hillary Newman — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:00:08 +0000

You must remember 2004. Bold floral prints and strong graphics were everywhere. Goddess dresses took off and Marc Jacobs released 1920s drop-waist dresses. It was a good year for the fashion-savvy. But 2004 marked an especially important year for those interested in eco-fashion. Deborah Lindquist launched her eco-conscience fashion line. Perusing through Deborah’s past collections, eco-friendly fabrics, recycled cashmere, repurposed kimonos and saris, vintage silk scarves and sustainable materials always make an appearance. I was able to check in with Deborah and learn more about her line. Read our interview below:

YDT: I’m always interested in how eco designers began their careers because each has his/her own motivation and way of creating eco-friendly products. How did you get started and what motivates you to design green?

DL: I got started in 1983 while I was designing for a company (Garanimals) in New York City. I wanted to create my own line and found a few yards of Milanese Mesh in some old bead/findings shop in the Millinery District. I designed a belt out of it using vintage leather, showed it to a store that had three other stores, and my line was launched. I literally started with one belt, and it was made of recycled materials. I’ve always used vintage materials. When I moved to California in 1989, I started making vintage fabric one-of-a-kind jackets and selling them to boutiques. I used vintage buttons too.

I decided to focus on a totally eco line around 2003 because it made sense to me; I felt the Earth was suffering from too much pollution, etc. I wanted to be part of the solution and dedicate my business to that intention. So I always include new eco-fabrics along with vintage/recycled ones in my line. It’s really a lifestyle for me though. I do the best I can with recycling at home, using green products, driving a Prius and trying not to be wasteful.

YDT: You have been in eco-fashion for a long time. How have you seen the industry change and what predictions do you see in the future?

DL: I see many more designers using green fabrics and I think that’s great. Textile manufactures are jumping on board too.

YDT: If your line were a person, what would she be like?

DL: Would be feminine but a bit edgy, with a desire to travel and see new places and things. (In my lookbooks I always have a traveling theme: Goth girl goes to the country, English girl goes to Tibet, etc.)

YDT: What would we find if we walked into you closet?

DL: A lot of clothing that I have made from the beginning of time till the present! I still have the belts I made back in New York when I started my business. I take really good care of my clothes so I have a representation of most categories.

YDT: As an L.A. local, what are some of you favorite eco spots/resources?

DL: Boy, to answer that I think I need to have more fun if you mean social events. I really spend a lot of time working actually. Running a fashion business is not for sissies. It’s such an incredibly full time career. But I like to work out, do yoga, swim, hike, bike ride. I’m happy in nature, so I like to spend time at the beach or in the mountains and to play Frisbee in the park with my dog or plant beautiful things in my garden. I like to make my world a more beautiful place and I have a green thumb so I’m constantly planting plants (drought resistant, of course.) Especially the ones that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Guess that’s pretty eco.

Thanks Deborah! May we suggest you look at the YDT events calendar when your looking for fun, active eco activities that are happening in L.A. :)

YDT Deal: Deborah is offering ydt readers 10% off of her line at www.deborahlindquist.com. Mention YDT to receive the discount. Find Deborah’s lines at the following stores here.

About Hillary:

Hillary is an eco-warrior. She is on the hunt for what’s hot and fresh in the Green Space. Hillary covers eco-related topics from art to green living. Hillary has always had a passion for the environment but it became clear to her that she wanted to pursue a career in the environment after spending half a year living in London. While spending time in London, Hillary explored the eco-fashion scene. Meeting with eco-fashion designers inspired Hillary to continue her research how to accomplish an eco-friendly lifestyle. Since then, Hillary has been adopting a green lifestyle and consulting her friends and family.

Hillary loves to spend time with her family at their vineyard, Jorian Hill in Santa Ynez. Hillary has work experience with Opportunity Green, Ecofabulous.com, GenGreen, Vogue, Dianne Von Furstenberg, FOX, Spy Glass, CAA, Jorian Hill Vineyard and BeatWax.

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In With the New: Obama’s Fuel Efficiency Standards

Pooja Jhobalia — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:15:13 +0000

As we are officially in the busiest driving season of the year, let’s take a look at the cars already on the road. More than 15,000,000 Angelenos drive the roads and as much as I hate to admit it – we are exceedingly dependent on foreign oil. It is remarkable that when gas prices plummet, we see more SUVs (aka cars the size of houses) driving around. And when gas prices soar, we see people driving compact cars with people piled up inside. It’s not surprising that our new presidential administration seeks to change these habits.

According to the EPA, our current vehicles get only 21 mpg on average. The Obama White House has unveiled an aggressive standard for auto manufacturers to boost the overall fuel economy by 40% over seven years.

The Obama Administration passed a new rule on May 19 requiring an average fleet fuel efficiency of 35.5 mpg by 2016. The old federal standard sought that efficiency by 2020.

Under the new system, all vehicles will need to meet or exceed a target adjusted to their vehicle size. For example, a Chevy Tahoe, which is 55 square feet, will be required to get about 24 mpg by 2011. Currently, the vehicle gets about 15 mpg. Additionally, this vehicle will have to continually improve from that point on. A senior administration official states that this transition will “remove 900 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the air, take 177 million cars off the road, and shut down 194 coal-fired power plants.”

By the time these changes come into effect, it is estimated that gas prices will be closer to $3.50 – translation – people will flock to their mini compact vehicles and leave their SUVs hibernating in the garage. The Obama Administration states that the cost per fuel-efficient vehicle would increase to an optimistic $1,300 per new vehicle. It would take less than a few years to visualize the benefit of fewer trips to refuel our vehicles’ empty bellies.

How do gas-guzzlers suddenly become fuel efficient? No drastic changes need to be made to the infrastructure and many manufacturers have found that only minor modifications to the vehicle and engine design are necessary. So the only question left unanswered is: why have we not done this already?

For those of us who do not plan to purchase a new vehicle anytime soon, here are some tips to reduce your trips to the gas pump: Decrease aggressive driving, avoid excessive idling and maintain properly inflated tires. By following these tips you can significantly improve your vehicle’s fuel economy. Remember, the best gas mileage comes from adjusting our driving habits.

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USELESS.org: Use Less, Give More

Connie Wu — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:25:14 +0000

In a world of disposable everything, USELESS.org has a unique mission: start using less, and start giving more.

Created by Mark Simmons, a former consultant for Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection, and Kathy Fletcher, who has extensive experience in non-profits and human rights advocacy, USELESS aims to produce items that leave as little impact on the environment as possible – from the 100% post-consumer packaging to manufacturing all of the items in the U.S.

In addition, 10% of the profits from the purchase of USELESS products go to charities like Wherever the Need, a non-profit that helps provide water supply to underserved countries worldwide.

Items available for purchase include organic tees, the BPA-free USELESS Water Bottle ($15), which encourages people to use less disposable water bottles, and the USELESS Utility Tote ($40), made of recycled advertising billboards.

One of the most provocative products is a handmade recycled stainless steel “USELESS” Logo Stencil ($40) - so you can brand your own items as “USELESS”. In addition, you can also purchase Earth – made of 100% nothing ($25) - 100% of the amount goes to water and sanitation projects.

You can learn more about USELESS by visiting their website.

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