News
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: Endocrine Disruptors in your Sunscreen?
I am all about the beach this summer, and I’m learning to be all about sunscreen that doesn’t contain toxic endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The Longview pool may be closing after this week (booo!!!) and the kids may be headed back to school soon, but summer’s not over yet, darnit, and there’s still plenty of time to hit the beach! Read on for more on toxic-free sunscreens, and rock on with your tanned-not-burned self.
City Council Approves Solar Plant
Today the city council voted to move forward with negotiating a lease agreement to build the Carolina’s largest solar array in Raleigh.
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: Organic on a Budget
Eating organic is not just for hippies, or yuppies for that matter, and it isn’t just “fancy” food, either. It’s for YOU. It’s french fries, hamburgers and apple juice just as much as it’s arugula and tofu, and it’s really important for your health, for your babies - be they actual or potential - for our environment, and for our economy. I’m serious! In this week’s Toxic Free NC Tip, I bring you some of the whys and hows of eating organic on the cheap.
Call for Artists - LOVE BUG
Can you draw a cooler bug than this dorkfest? The Great Bug Draw Off is coming up First Friday August 7th. Artists of Raleigh, this is your call - come draw bugs and help raise money for a great cause. Deets inside…
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: The Dangers of Round Up
So, you’ve got weeds, and no one seems to think spritzing them with Roundup is any big deal, but you’re skeptical, and well you should be. Read on for more about this crazy chemical, and some ideas for getting rid of weeds without it.
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: Lead (as in the heavy metal)
I heartily recommend the Bain Project installation to anyone who hasn’t been out to see it yet, but - and I say this out of love - the place is full of peeling dusty corroded lead-based paint, and you should think long and hard before bringing your kids. While we’re on the subject, there are lots of misconceptions about lead poisoning - how it happens, where it happens, and even that it still happens at all. It does!! Please read on if you have kids or would like to some day.
Time Lapse: Swirling Storm Over Downtown Raleigh
Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Raleigh any more.
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: Pesticides in Child Care
A new report out this week called Avoiding Big Risks for Small Kids reveals that pesticides are overused in NC child care. Get the scoop on what the report says, what you should do, what questions you should ask, and more.
Museum of Science Planet Earth Celebration
For scientists Earth Day is second only to Darwin’s birthday.
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: They’re Baaaaaack
Fire ants and fleas and ticks, oh my! The bugs are back. Drats. Be prepared!
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: Farmers Markets Galore
Hello springtime! Downtown’s Moore Square Farmers Market re-opens April 15th, with toxic-free veggies galore. Plus, the skinny on other farmers’ markets in Raleigh.
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: National Pesticide Forum in NC
The 27th National Pesticide Forum - Bridge to an Organic Future! - is in Carrboro this year. It will feature such pesticide fighting rockstars as Jim Hightower, Baldemar Velásquez, and giant bug puppets from Paperhand Puppet Intervention’s awesome insect show last year. Carpool, anyone?
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: Toxic-Free Toiletries
The average person encounters multiple cancer-causing chemicals before breakfast every day from their toiletries. Nar nar! Here are some tips for ingredients to avoid in your toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, make-up, etc, as well as a couple recommendations on local companies making least-toxic products.
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: Drain Cleaner
Got gunk in your drain? Before you run for the toxic (and expensive) chemical products, give this a shot.
Toxic Free Tip of the Week: Cost of Tomatoes?
Three children with birth defects; four years of investigations; three thousand dollars. The Ag-Mart case closed with a whimper last week - what a frustrating anti-climax. Get the skinny on what happened, and on the various brand names Ag-Mart’s tomatoes come under so you can avoid them if you wanna.
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: Triclosan
Ditch the antibacterial hand soap, please. It’s got secret pesticides in it, and isn’t actually making your hands any cleaner than old fashioned “anti-dirt” soap. Read more about the tons of consumer products that contain triclosan, and get tips for avoiding it.
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: Toxic Junk Food
Turns out, it’s more like high MERCURY corn syrup. Yikes!
Toxic Free NC Tip of the Week: Join a CSA Farm
Raleigh is so lucky to have CSA farms, where you can get your weekly veggies while helping to keep a local sustainable farmer in business. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and it means that you can buy a share in a farm’s output for the year directly from the farmer. They all work a little differently, but the basic idea is that you pay a lump sum early in the year, then you get food every week through the growing season. It’s about time to sign up for 2009. For more about CSAs, and how and why to join one, below the fold.
