Premiering this weekend at the West End Theater in DC is a film that picks up where Food, Inc. left off. We know that corporate food is poison because corners are cut and quality is sacrificed for mass production and bloated profits. Across the country people are making sincere efforts to buy local foods & organic foods. The frustrating reality is that it is harder and more expensive to make these choices and it should not be!

Farmageddon reveals the scary truth behind why this problem exists for small farms and food producers and why you have been sentenced to a life of tasteless, harmful foods. Eric and I will be there Saturday night. The 7PM showing is followed by a Q&A with the Director. NoVA folks – come out!

There will be no pictures of you and Willie May / pushing that shopping cart down the block on a dead run…

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GreenItUp! will be at the Fairfax Farmers’ Market this Saturday. Our weekly drawing winner is Gabby D. of Fairfax. Come down to the Market to claim your bottle of MultiPurpose cleaner. If I were you, I’d pick up a chocolate croissant from the Baker next to me too or a lemon & ginger scone from the Baker across from me… oh man, I can’t wait!

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You may know from my previous blog that this past weekend I worked with Nature’s Voice Our Choice (NV-OC) in the Greenology exhibit at the Celebrate Fairfax Festival. Many thanks to everyone that came out and bought a toilet tummy, faucet aerator or a bottle of MultiPurpose cleaner. Also, a special thanks to everyone who listened to our presentation or talked with us at our table. I hope that you walked away from the exhibit with a greater appreciation for water conservation. (Extra special thanks to Brenda who in her Twin Peaksish way showed me that there is something kooky about Fairfax that might be worth celebrating!)

Before working with NV-OC, my position on water conservation was probably on par with most Americans. Most of us do not know where our water comes from, how much we use or how in danger we are of running out. Most of us, even though concerned for the environment and trying to do all the right things, do not know the severity of the water crisis. Most of us believe that what we use just goes right back to the water treatment facility and then back to us again.

Now I know that my water comes from the Potomac. Now I know that I use about 98 gallons of water a day. That is an average amount calculating laundry, cooking, bathing and using the bathroom. That figure does not take into account outside items that I consume. For instance, it takes 400 gallons to produce a t-shirt, 1800 gallons to produce a pair of jeans and 16 gallons to produce a can of soda. Think about that the next time you are at Target or the mall and you pick up an item just because it is on sale and not because you actually need it!

Now I know that even though most of the water I use goes back to a water treatment plant, 40% of Municipal Energy Needs are used for water supply and waste-water treatment. Now I know that even if we had unlimited energy, our population is increasing at rates that cannot be supported by the amount of water that is on the planet – especially at the rate in which we are consuming it.

NV-OC has created a Virtual River Project that seeks to reduce our water consumption by half thereby creating a new water source. If you use half of what you normally use there would be water for a whole other human being to use. Conversely, if you don’t conserve water, you could be denying water to a whole other human being.

NV-OC is working with manufacturers to provide smart products that make water conservation simple. The Virtual River Project works with cities to provide incentives, improve infrastructure, and pass ordinances aimed at reducing water use. Businesses are encouraged to improve practices and facilities to reduce water consumption. And, of course, households are educated on inexpensive devices and practices to save water daily.

Now I know that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expects 36 states to have water shortages by 2013. That is a year and a half away! Most countries already enforce water restrictions – times of day when certain water use is prohibited. Some areas of the world can only access water for an hour a day. Think about how busy you are now. Then imagine that your entire life revolves around the one hour a day you have access to water.

I don’t want to live in a world where water is a rare commodity – available only to those who can afford it. Unless we create a new water source through conservation, we are in for a very rude awakening.

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The Tree of Life is most likely the best movie that has been made this century. See it – see it in the theater! Read my husband’s review of the film on thesplitscreen, a film review website from Eric and our friend – and film student – Matt Smith. Matt’s recent article on the Hostel series was tweeted by Eli Roth! For real.

From Eric’s review:

No, what I mean is that when the urge strikes, you have to be willing to weep uncontrollably in that theater at the unspeakable beauty of what is happening on the screen, as many of those around me did, unashamed of what Malick had just done to them, immune to the sideways glances of those who didn’t get it. If you are incapable of making this kind of commitment, then the cathartic power of The Tree of Life will likely elude you. Yes, seeing this film is—and should be—that kind of transformative spiritual experience for you.

If it isn’t, then you weren’t paying attention.

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The weekly winner of a bottle of GreenItUp!’s MultiPurpose Cleaner is Andrea L. of Fairfax. GreenItUp! will not be at the Fairfax Farmers’ Market this Saturday due to participation in the Celebrate Fairfax Festival. Stop by the Nature’s Voice Our Choice booth in the Greenology exhibit if you come to the Festival. Otherwise, come by the Market Saturday June 18th.

Who will be next?

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GreenItUp! is teaming up with Nature’s Voice Our Choice this weekend at the Celebrate Fairfax Festival. We are introducing carnival goers to 5 easy, inexpensive ways they can save 50 gallons of water every day! The Virtual River challenges every American household to reduce their water consumption.

5 easy steps:

1. install low flow faucet aerators in each bathroom and kitchen – cost $5, saves 30-40 gal/day

2. install a toilet tummey in each toilet tank – cost $5, saves 10-20 gal/day

3. use natural cleaning products – cost $6/bottle, saves 2-5 gal/day

4. install a low flow shower head in each shower – cost $10, saves 15-30 gal/day

5. install a rain sensor on your sprinkler system – cost $30, saves 100 gal/cycle

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GreenItUp! will be at the Fairfax Farmers’ Market tomorrow. Come by for a bottle of MultiPurpose cleaner and a chance to win a free home cleaning. Drawings will be held weekly for MultiPurpose winners and monthly for home cleanng winners.

This week’s MultiPurpose winner is Keith H. of Reston – hope to see you tomorrow, Keith. Come down anytime to pick up your free bottle. You can also come on Saturday the 18th. (GreenItUp! will be at the Celebrate Fairfax Festival on June 11th and on a weekend trip  June 25th.)

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You know what I mean by that ‘ungreen’ feeling? You are walking on a beach with your Mom or some other woman that you are close to and you realize that there is something you use on a regular basis that is really bad for you and the environment.

For me, there was no beach or flowers or intimate moments with a friend. I was simply standing around in Trader Joe’s waiting on Eric to stop ‘windowshopping.’  Sitting on the shelf in the personal items aisle was something I never thought of as having a ‘green alternative.’

But there they were in 100% unbleached cotton wrapped in 100% unbleached, recycled paper. Of course! It was so obvious. What product could be closer to you and, therefore, possibly cause the most harm to you?

For those of you that are lost, I am talking about Miss Scarlett coming home to Tara, Game Day for the Crimson Tide, Taking Carrie to the Prom, Checking into the Red Roof Inn, Falling to the Communists, or (my favorites are the Western themed ones) Saddling Old Rusty. The ponies we use are both a huge burden on landfills and a guaranteed path for harmful chemicals to enter your body.

In looking for alternatives to share with you folks, I found the perfect answer. I wish that all environmental problems could be resolved this easily. I found the Mooncup. Check it out and saddle up, Hoss!

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Mark your calendar for June 10th, 11th and 12th!

We know that commercial cleaners are dangerous for your health when inhaled or absorbed into the skin, but it is often overlooked that we are polluting our water every time we purchase, use and throw away a commercial cleaner. What goes around comes around. The production of cleaner contaminates water supplies in the form of company waste and run-off. When we use these cleaners they contaminate the water supply as they run down our drains. Finally, when we throw these products away they contaminate water supply through ground contamination at landfills.

GreenItUp! is teaming up with Nature’s Voice Our Choice, a DC Metro based non-profit organization committed to conserving water through local action. We will be assisting them at the Celebrate Fairfax! Festival‘s Greenology exhibit. The Festival draws thousands and will be held Friday June 10th through Sunday June 12th.

More to come on this project later. Plan on coming by – eat some food, ride a roller coaster and help support a matter of life or death cause!

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Come out to the Downtown Fairfax Farmers’ Market on Saturday and enter to win a FREE HOME CLEANING!!!!!

Monthly drawing is for a one time, free home cleaning of up to 4 hours.

Weekly drawings are for a free bottle of GreenItUp! MultiPurpose Cleaner to be redeemed at the Fairfax Farmers’ Market.

Winner will be contacted by email and announced on www.greenitupllc.com by first name and last initial only.

Winner has 8 weeks from notification of having won to redeem home cleaning. GreenItUp! will advise winner of available days and times for cleaning. GreenItUp! will not clean any commercial spaces or in any unsafe homes or areas. The winner must be a resident occupant of the home to be cleaned. The winner agrees to the Terms & Conditions of the GreenItUp!, LLC. contract which the winner may view at www.greenitupllc.com. You must be 18 years or older to enter the drawing. Drawing is limited to one entry per household. Free cleaning and free cleaner drawing promotions may be terminated at any time without notice. Drawing is limited to the following zip codes: 22033, 22035, 20153, 22124, 20151, 20196, 22118, 22038, 20171, 22030, 20120, 22037, 20191, 20122, 22181, 20192, 22096, 20195, 20121, 20190, 22185, 22032, 22034, 22116, 22036, 20102, 22031, 22095, 20172, 22183, 22180, 20152, 22182, 20124, 22082, 22081, 22119, 20170, 20113, 20194, 22158, 22027, 22015, 22009.

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