Green Options

Cellphones. My generation’s “must have” accessory. I have yet to jump on the iPhone bandwagon. In fact, I once dated a boy with a Blackberry and found myself resenting the phone for all it’s gadgets that consumed most of his time. (Don’t worry. I’ve since worked on my Blackberry resentment. In fact, I realized if he was more interested in his relationship with his phone he probably wasn’t much into me. Of course, I only figured this out after he dumped me. Uncomfortable silence.) I’ve always had a pretty measly cell phone with the mere basics, you know- the ability to talk to another human being. In the last couple years, I upgraded to a phone with a camera- huge milestone in my technology focused life.

So, when I realized I was up for another phone upgrade from Sprint, I got a wee bit excited, almost nervous. Dare I upgrade to a phone with Internet access? Oh me, oh my. While browsing through the possible choices my eyes gleamed, my mouth watered, the infinite possibilities of “cool” cell phones scrolled down the computer screen. Mixed feelings of taking a step to join the “hip technologically advanced kids” consumed my every thought.

“Samsung Reclaim,” an eco phone; immediately, I stopped browsing and clicked on the image of the green phone (literally) to read more.

Students from West Philadelphia High School have built a diesel-hybrid race car that goes from 0-60 in four seconds. While the car currently gets 60+ mpg, they hope to soon break 100 mpg.

Why? They are competing for $10 million in the Automotive X-Prize .

Called the Hybrid Attack, the car was built by kids from West Philly’s Academy of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering. And if that alone doesn’t make them cool, they are the only high school team competing out of 90 different teams from the U.S. and overseas.

In a sampling of two thousand recycled mobile phones, 99 percent were found to have sensitive data like banking information and confidential emails.

The sampling was done by Regenersis. They processed over 2 million handsets in 2008; that’s one handset every 15 seconds. During a random sampling in December they discovered how many mobiles had not been wiped clean: a lot!

Many eco-conscious families struggle with buying seafood that is both healthy for themselves and the environment.

“Choosing eco-friendly seafood is not only good for the oceans, it’s good for your family too,” says Katharine Burnham, spokesperson for the Environmental Defense Fund.

So what exactly is eco-friendly seafood? Anchovies are the Eco-Best Seafood, according to the Environmental Defense Fund’s research.  In its health facts, the fund says anchovies are high in heart-healthy omega-3s and have low contaminant levels.

Anchovies can be safely eaten by adults and children for more than four meals per month, research indicates.  They have “short life spans and reproduce quickly (and) are resilient to fishing pressure and remain plentiful.”

GPS enabled phones such as the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry have made getting around so much easier, and in the case of geocaching, more fun. But what if you’re a green minded individual, in a city you’ve never been to before, or even in your own town, and want to know what businesses have got what you want?

I went to Northern California recently on a business trip.  I got too much done.  Meetings, work sessions, proposals, emails, conference calls, and a few very memorable dinners. Four cities in just as many days. Before returning to San Francisco, I stayed with a friend in a small town up north. One sunny morning I decided to explore the area, so I asked her what there is to do.  Knowing me, she told me there’s a nice walking trail.  I could walk there or drive.  Well that was a no-brainer, of course I’d walk.

But I got thrown totally off track.  What I expected to be a calm, relaxing, reflective stroll beneath California oaks, turned into a passionate, ecstatic, breathless plunge into excesses the likes of which I hadn’t experienced in years.  It took my breath away, melted all self-control, and spun my world halfway round.

Oh, shame on you for thinking naughty thoughts.  It wasn’t the Adonis of the Litoral I encountered on the path (sorry gals… !)  It was an unassuming blackberry sprig.  Peeking out from the dried grasses along the edge of the path.  Winking at me in the sun.  I winked back, then looked around.  Is it legal to pick a blackberry here? I walked past it, choosing planetary well-being over my own base desires.  That’s probably the only blackberry sprig on this trail, and how awful would it be if I picked it rather than leave it for the birds or animals trying to earn an honest local living.

This recipe is an inexpensive, seasonal treat that’s almost too good to be true. From “Wildman” Steve Brill’s Wild Vegetarian Cookbook, we get a sumptuous, healthy, seasonal, local, organic dessert that also encourages the removal of an invasive species. For the green gourmand, could life get any better?

Late summer brings many treats, but my favorite is ripe wild blackberries. Blackberries are an abundant

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