The “Green Eggs (hold the ham) Experiment”
January 6, 2009 by girlgreen · 2 Comments
At first, people think I’m a little crazy when I tell them I have chickens as pets. It seemed to make perfect sense to me, going right along with the other green lifestyle changes I’ve made, but I guess green eggs aren’t on the minds of most. So let’s examine the different choices you have when it comes to eggs, and why you might want to make a switch or get a few chickens of your own.
What’s Wrong with “Normal” Eggs?
A pack of standard eggs at the grocery store probably came from an industrialized factory farm. Chickens here are kept in tiny wire cages barely bigger than their bodies their entire lives, while they sit immobile, unable to do anything but pop out eggs.
Many people feel chickens are one of the most abused and cruelly treated animals in the food industry, and by purchasing battery caged (factory-farmed) eggs, you are supporting the mistreatment of these animals. Several countries including Germany, Switzerland and Sweden have banned farming eggs using battery cages. In 2008, the state of California also banned the use of battery cages along with other anti-cruelty legislation, and similar legislation is in the works at local levels across the nation.
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To Kill a Cockatiel
November 13, 2008 by girlgreen · Leave a Comment
A few years ago, I started boiling some water in a non-stick coated pot, forgot about it and left the house. I returned a few hours later to find the water had evaporated and the pot was steaming on the stove. In the next room, I found my pet cockatiel, Newton, dead. Heartbroken and shocked, I later learned that some non-stick coatings can release fumes that are deadly to birds, especially if the pan is overheated. Wikipedia states the chemical polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) , used in some non-stick coatings, can cause flu-like symptoms in humans and can be lethal to birds.
Now known as “the girl who’s cooking literally kills,” I pretty much avoid the stovetop and I hadn’t thought much about this until recently. I saw an episode of Stuff Happens with a blip on the possible dangers of non-stick coatings and decided to look into this since I still have those old pots and pans in the cabinet. According to the EPA, perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA (chemical used in the manufacturing of some non-stick coatings) is a “likely carcinogen.” Several studies have shown that up to 95% of Americans have PFOAs in their bloodstream among other PFC chemicals, though it’s not clear how it got there. The EPA signed agreements with several non-stick chemical manufacturing companies to reduce PFOAs by 95% by 2010 with a complete phase-out by 2015. I decided it’s time for new cookware.
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Don’t Forget About Fido
September 30, 2008 by boygreen · Leave a Comment
Green living includes our four-legged friends, too. Many brands of dog food, cat food and treats include unhealthy chemicals, by-products, cheap grains, and high levels of salt and sugar. If you’ve decided to go green, you’re probably avoiding eating these things yourself, but what about your pets?
Proper nutrition is just as important for your pet as it is for you. There are several brands of organic, all natural, holistic, or raw pets foods and treats that can help transition your pet over to a “green” diet:
The Honest Kitchen
Dehydrated raw pet food that’s guaranteed to be human-grade. This company takes fresh, raw ingredients and dehydrates them so almost all of the valuable nutrients, enzymes and vitimins remain. The foods are produced in a human food facility in California. They offer dehydrated raw foods for dogs and cats as well as some fun treats.
Nature’s Variety
Nature’s Variety offers several healthier options for your pet, including frozen raw diets, organic frozen meals, freeze dried raw foods, raw bones, grain-free foods and all-natural kibble. My dogs love the Organic Frozen Raw Chicken formula. Their raw diets include the nutritional benefits of ground raw bones.
Eagle Pack Holistic Select
Holistic Select formulas include several “extras” that you won’t find in grocery brands. Corn and soy-free, these holistic dog and cat foods also include prebiotics, probiotics, and antioxidants. The company uses USDA chicken that is hormone and antibiotic free and includes various fruits and vegetables in the foods. They also include Omega-3 and Omega-6 as well as glucosamine for healthy joints.
Natura
Natura offers several different lines of premium dog and cat foods. Grain-free EVO provides key nutrition obtained from raw foods in a convenient kibble. Karma is an organic line of dog food and treats with 95% organic ingredients.
Before you purchase your next bag of dog food, check the ingredient list to see what’s in it. “You are what you eat” applies to pets, too. You just might be surprised when you discover the difference a change to a high quality food can make.