Meet the Team

Denise: Founding Director
I founded Earth-Watchers a few years ago during my pregnancy. The prospect of raising my child "green" and safe from harmful chemicals, was incredibly daunting and overwhelming. I knew I needed help. I would often make a commitment to do something and then slip up as soon as temptation arrived. I am grateful to have a support group who not only "gently" hold me accountable for my actions but provide me with countless helpful suggestions.

July goal: Drink only organic and shade grown coffee READ MORE:

Heather: Outreach Director
July goal: Replace all personal care products(shampoos, soaps, sunscreen, make-up, etc.) with natural products that are paraben and phthlate free READ MORE:

CJ: Marketing Director
I live in lower Manhattan and recently retired from the office to full-time
CEO of the household.  Although my new boss(son) is very good to me,
my more familiar self is challenged daily.  All priorities indeed change
-go figure.  Or, is it now go green?
Lately, I rethink every-day choices in an effort to support a healthier
environment for my son to thrive and contribute.  Ultimately, my goal is
to lead by example.  The Earth-Watchers group is my resource for
support and practical alternatives.
July Goal:
1)Consume more local produce and eat less meat
2)Save and re-use my to-go sleeves on my take-out coffee cups
READ MORE:

AB: Financial Director
July Goal: 
Reduce My Use of Disposable Diapers by Using G-diapers Instead

RG
July Goal:
Reduce My Use of Paper

RM
July Goal:
Shorten the Length of My Showers

Ellen:
July Goal:
Save All My Scrap Paper and Turn Them into Notebooks

Eliminating Paper and Plastic

Goal: Eliminating paper and plastic when shopping and dining
out

While running my daily errands around the neighborhood I have noticed
that I am still taking a lot of paper and plastic when making
purchases. When I buy arugula or spinach at the Greenmarket they put it
in a plastic bag. I might stop and buy a bottle of water or get a latte
to go. I always carry a canvas bag but oftentimes buy too much and then
need to use the paper or plastic bags that are offered to me. My goal
is to eliminate all of this paper and plastic.

Here are some steps I have taken to help reach my goal:

• Always carry a canvas bag
• Use my stroller bag to hold purchases if my canvas bag is full
• Buy smaller quantities of food and make more frequent visits to the
market
• Carry my Sigg cup filled with water
• Carry a stainless steel coffee cup just in case I want my latte to go
(although sitting at Jack’s drinking a latte in a ceramic cup is more
enjoyable!)

In the first week I feel like I refused a lot of plastic and paper
bags. I put my Greenmarket purchases directly in my canvas bag. I went
to Bell Bates and Bed, Bath and Beyond and put my purchases directly in
my stroller bag.

One item that has been a little tricky is buying roasted chickens at
Bouley Market. The containers are filled with juice so I want to have
them wrap it in a paper bag before I put it in my canvas bag.

I also found it challenging when we went out of town for the weekend. I
brought a canvas bag but found it more difficult to use it for all of
our purchases. I need to think creatively in the moment, i.e., carry
things back to the car without bagging them.

******

Denise's June Goal: Kicking the Take-Out Habit

My goal: Giving up take-out containers
My quest: To develop a plan we can approach restaurant owners with so that we might be able to indulge in take-out without all of the throw-aways. Any insights on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

6/1
There are often times when I really crave certain foods and would like to have someone else do the cooking and clean-up. Last Saturday my husband and I ordered burgers from a local diner and picnicked outside. Not only were the burgers encased in a styrofoam container, the lettuce and tomatoes were in a small ziplock bag, the utensils in another and of course, the ketchup, mustard and mayonaise, (not that we asked for all this), were also in separate containers. In addition, all of this was in a bleached white paper bag, placed inside a plastic bag. I wish I could go back to the care-free days when I could enjoy a meal like this, but of course I couldn't, thinking about the enormity of the environmental impact of this meal, and that is not even including the burger itself! So, for this month, I intend to forego take-out.

I think the hardest part about this for me will be giving up the take-out ice tea. I usually make my coffee or tea at home, but every once in awhile, particularly when the weather is warm, I really enjoy a large ice tea from AuBonPain. This large ice tea usually involves a large cup, with a plastic lid and plastic straw wrapped in bleached white paper-ugh! In addition, my daughter, when seeing my large up with the plastic straw has been crying for her own. I confess to allowing her, her own cup and straw so that I can drink my caffeinated drink in peace without sharing.

Denise
6/5
Discovery!
Did you know that if you re-use your disposable cup at Starbucks, regardless of how many times, you only get charged for a re-fill? I've had my cup since long before I made this committment and get charged 50 cents for a Venti Ice Tea! On the contrary, when you bring your own re-usable mug you save a measly 10 cents. Go figure!

6/8
Seriously craving pizza today. Want to bring my own plate and get a slice but feel silly, so we end up eating out. My husband and I share a small personal pie and have 2 pieces leftover. I slip them in my re-usable take out container in which I carried a meal for my daughter(she ate it while we ate our pizza).

6/10
Confession:
So today, I went to a work-related function and we were honored as guests and given a wonderful lunch. I had my re-usable containers with me and could have helped myself without using a styrofoam plate but was afraid of making my hosts uncomfortable and sounding "I'm better than you since I don't use styrofoam," so I used the plate. I did re-use it for desert! Does this count as take-out?

6/12
Looking for a lunch option and not wanting to get take-out so check out the grocery store. Anything I can get is already packaged. Does this count as take-out? I think so, so I opt for leftovers in my fridge, but really wished I could have had the sushi!

6/13
I can't take it anymore! I want an ice-tea. So I go to AuBonPain and get one and put it in my stainless steel water bottle. Shouldn't I get some kind of discount? Got charged for a small but am pretty sure I got short-changed on that deal.