box car houses

 What's Hot  1 Response »
May 302012
 

Trains have long stood as a symbol of industrial achievement, adventure, and utility. After traveling tens of thousands of miles, carrying an array of items, train cars eventually retire from the tracks.  But, some people are trying to stretch the utility of train cars and shipping containers by using them for homes, restaurants and businesses.

Cargotechture is the process of re-designing a train car or cargo hold into a functioning workspace or living place. The average train car is about fifty feet long and ten feet wide, providing around 500 square feet inside.

Some office buildings (like the one pictured to the right) combine box cars to create a unique structure. Cargotechture is not just a style, it is also a green movement.  The containers are recycled and require minimal energy because they are so small. You can also put solar panels on the roof and capture rainwater to use in toilets. This makes the box car self sustaining.

Being green doesn’t always need to be complicated.  In fact, sometimes the simplest solutions are the most sustainable.

Sources:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130027101

http://www.npr.org/2012/05/30/153574677/forget-big-box-stores-how-about-a-big-box-house

 

 

 

pin it to win it contest

 In Stock  No Responses »
May 302012
 

In the name of healthy skin GreenCupboards is embarking on a journey to increase skin care awareness and we need YOUR help! Starting today, May 30th, through July 4th we are hosting a Pinterest contest centered on summer fun gone wrong.

We want you to find a photo of your worst sunburn and enter the photo into the GreenCupboards Pin It To Win It contest. Here is how the contest works:

  1. Follow GreenCupboards on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/greencupboards
  2. Pin a photo that documents your worst sunburn to one of your boards
  3. In the description of your pin, enter #GCsummerfun
  4. Comment on our “pin for healthy skin” board with the url to your pin. This officially enters you into the contest.

On July 4th, GreenCupboards will sift through all of the photo submissions and pick three winners. The winners will receive a sun care package from Badger, Coola, or California Baby.

Here is why you should participate: By submitting a photo of your worst burn you are showing the importance of sunscreen and appropriate skin care in a fun and engaging way. And further, you are giving yourself a chance to win a fantastic sun care package from one of three phenomenal brands.

 

after burn care

 Green Living  No Responses »
May 302012
 

Shish kabob and marshmallows aren’t the only things that sizzle during the summer months. If the sun painfully chances to have its way with your hide, you might take heed of these after burn care tips from the GreenCupboards medicine cabinet … and the Mayo Clinic dermatology portal.

Ultraviolet View of the Sun

1. Cool It! Help the healing process by bringing the temperature down (mildly) with a cold pack wrapped in a towel to insulate – wouldn’t want to frost bite your sunburn. Yikes.

2. Moisturize: Drink water (around 3 liters) per day and apply a topical moisturizer such as aloe or an after burn cream to the affected area. Multiple soothing recovery options from Alba Botanica or BurnOut ought to stave the sting of a day’s heat rash.

3. Don’t Fillet Blisters! The learned folk at Mayo suggest leaving blisters intact since draining them can hinder the healing process and lead to potential infection.

radioactive tuna

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May 292012
 

A radioactive Bluefin tuna was found off the coast of California this weekend. The tuna is believed to have swam more than 6,000 miles from Japan.  Scientists believe the tuna came from the radioactive shores surrounding the Fukushima meltdown in 2011.  A National Academy of Sciences researcher said scientists are  ”startled” by the discovery.

Though the radiation found in this particular Bluefin was ten times higher than the average, however was still within the safe-to-eat levels established by the U.S. and Japanese governments.

The tuna became radioactive by swimming in contaminated waters and eating contaminated prey like krill and squid.  Scientists originally predicted  the radiation would flush out of the tuna’s system by the time it swam to US shorelines.  They were shocked when the high levels remained. 

We doubt this is the last news we will hear concerning the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear reactors meltdown. All we can do is hope that Godzilla does not evolve from this mess.

Sources:

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2012/05/29/radioactive-tuna-swim-from-japan-to-california/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/28/radioactive-bluefin-tuna-japan-fukushima-california_n_1551431.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57442698/radioactive-bluefin-tuna-crossed-the-pacific-to-us/

Images:

http://www.oceanriver.org/AtlanticBluefinTuna.php

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/07/tunafarms/

uncle jim’s worm farm dotw

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May 292012
 

Wriggle your way to a good deal! 

Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm – 1000 Red Wrigglers: 

Got creepy crawlies on the mind? Use Uncle Jim’s Red Wrigglers for garden aeration or Composting. Known for their ability to help accelerate the compost process, These juicy slimers help create topsoil for gardener who lack the space for conventional compost bins. Simply add the Red Wrigglers to your compost pile, layering dirt and food scraps on top of each other. Dampen the pile lightly to accelerate the breakdown of material and voila! Your very own topsoil!

Was:  $ 30.00

Now: $ 15.00

This deal of the week runs from May 29th through June 3rd.

a first date with scott

 Inside GC  No Responses »
May 252012
 

Home Town: Parker, Colorado 

Job Title: Director of Marketing

Job description in your own words: Oversee structure and analysis of Marketing Campaign

Reasons for working at GreenCupboards: I am surrounded daily by driven, intelligent, and fun colleagues in a company that sells products that help to make the world a better place. The culture and environment is unlike anything I have ever been a part of.

#1 GreenCupboards shopping spree item (and why): Anything and everything Goal Zero so I could have self sustaining solar energy everywhere

What environmental issue concerns you most and how would you like to see that resolved: Global Warming, ride your bike to work!

My thinking place is: In front of my computer with the Black Eyed Peas playing and no distractions

Any non-generic hobbies outside of the office? Darts won the C-league triples in Spokane, took 3rd in Regionals in Boise, and subsequently threw out my shoulder as a result

If I wasn’t working for GreenCupboards, I would be: Teaching Wilderness Medicine and guiding backpacking

One time I: was coming back from a ski-trip my sophomore year of college and my mom conferenced called my brother, sister, and I to tell us she was pregnant with youngest sister (named Madison). She is now 3 years old making her 20 years, 9 Months, and 3 Days younger than me.

Before I die I would like to: Go Fly-Fishing in Patagonia

When I pass my boss in the hallway I say: Did you catch the (insert his favorite sports team)’s game?

When I pass my boss in the hallway I think: I hope (above team) actually played last night.

Favorite Place on Earth: Florence, Italy

The most creative thing I know how to do: Homemade Sushi

 I would like you to know: My last name is spelled P-t-o-l-e-m-y and it is pronounced Tallomy. And if anyone asks I am direct descendant to Cleopatra (famous female pharaoh of Egypt from the Ptolemaic Dynasty) and Claudius Ptolemy (developer of the Ptolemaic system in which all the planets in the solar system revolved around the earth) therefore it is in my blood to think the world revolves around me (our family tens to ignore the rather persuasive findings of Copnericous, Gallieo and Kepler). Just kidding, but makes for a good conversation starter!

sophie the giraffe

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May 242012
 

Some toys come and go, but Sophie the Giraffe has been a successful baby toy for over fifty years. Sophie the Giraffe is a small rubber squeaking toy made from HEVEA tree sap that is great for teething babies. The first Sophie was made on May 25th 1961 so that means this week she will be celebrating her fifty-first birthday. Happy Birthday Sophie!

When Sophie the Giraffe was first born, the only animal toys around for little kiddos to play with were farm animals or pet figures. An exotic African animal, like a giraffe, is appealing to little kids and the shape and size of Sophie the Giraffe is perfect for little hands.

Today, Sophie the Giraffe looks exactly as she did on May 25th, 1961. However, there have been a few Sophie the Giraffe theme products that have spun from Sophie’s birth including a blanket,  teething rings, key chain and even a gift case.

Here are a few reasons why babies love her:

Sight:

At the age of 3 months, a baby’s eyesight is still limited and he or she can only make out high contrasts. The Dark and contrasting attention-catching spots all over Sophie the Giraffe’s body provide visual stimulation and she soon becomes a familiar and reassuring object for baby.

Hearing:

Sophie the Giraffe’s squeaker keeps baby amused and stimulates his hearing. To begin with, the funny sound Sophie makes when she is squeezed helps to stimulate baby’s hearing, and then later, helps him to understand the link between cause and effect.

Taste:

Sophie the Giraffe is made of 100% natural rubber and food paint, and is completely safe to chew, just like a feeding bottle teat. Her soft texture and numerous chewable parts (ears, horns, legs), make her perfect for soothing baby’s sore gums during teething.

Touch:

Touch is the first means a baby has of communicating with the outside world. Sophie the Giraffe’s soft feel, like baby’s mother’s skin, stimulates physiological and emotional response that soothe baby and promote healthy growth and well-being.

Smell:

The singular scent of natural rubber from the Hevea tree makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify amid all his other toys.

Easy to grip:

Sophie the Giraffe’s shape and 18 cm (7 inches) size are perfect for baby’s small hands. She is very light, and her long legs and neck are easy for baby to grip, even from his earliest days.

what makes a good sunscreen?

 Green Living  1 Response »
May 232012
 

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) the best sunscreens on the market today are those containing zinc and titanium. When shopping for sunscreens one of the first things you will look at is the Sun Protection Factor (SPF). The SPF number generally indicates how many minutes you can be out in the sun with adequate protection. SPF 20 means 200 minutes of protection.  This is factored by multiplying the SPF by ten.

Where SPF gets misleading is when you go above SPF 30.  Studies indicate that there is little difference in sunscreen protection above SPF 30. So if you buy an SPF 50 sunscreen, you shouldn’t expect to be able to stay outside for 500 minutes without turning red.

When buying a sunscreen make sure you’re buying one with UVB and UVA protection. Many sunscreens only protect against UVB rays that can prevent you from getting a sunburn but do not deflect cancer causing UVA rays.

Another nasty side effect from shabby sunscreens are chemicals that can effect a person’s hormones. These chemicals include: oxybenzone, retinol, or retinyl palmitate.

So to recap what to keep in mind when sunscreen shopping:

  • Zinc and titanium are OKAY
  • You don’t necessarily have to buy a sunscreen with an SPF over 30
  • Get a sunscreen that protects against BOTH UVB and UVA rays.
  • Avoid hormone-altering chemicals

pregnancy discrimination in the workplace

 What's Hot  No Responses »
May 222012
 

Garry Wade / Stone+ / Getty Immages. Courtesy of Time

As World War II demanded American men to head off to war, women were called upon to contribute to the workplace and keep the country afloat. Then the war came to a close more and more women stayed in the workplace creating an altogether new working environment in America. With a larger number of women working, the 1950s saw the modern birth and popularity of sexual harassment in the workplace. Although Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act outlawed sexual harassment in hopes of creating an equal work environment, discrimination against women still exists. A perfect example of present day discrimination in the workplace revolves around pregnancy and the challenges that many pregnant women face from employers.

According to Time Magazine, pregnancy related discrimination has skyrocketed by 50% since 2000. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that since 2001 52,000 pregnancy related discrimination claims have been filed amounting to $150.5 million in damage. So what’s the problem? Why does this discrimination exist?

The root of the problem lies in how the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) is defined. According to the PDA, pregnant women are to be treated the same way that sick or disabled workers are treated. The problem is that pregnancy is neither a sickness, injury or disability. Treating a pregnant women the same as a injured worker is the same as comparing apples to oranges, they simply aren’t the same. Thus, pregnant employees often don’t receive any relevant differential treatment because an appropriate course of action is not outlined in the PDA and employers feel that the rules the PDA does instate are unjustified.

The second problem with pregnancy in the workplace is that women are hesitant to request time off in fear that they will lose their job. The Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 provides a mere 12 weeks of job-protected leave after the birth. Counter that with France’s impressive policy that allows for 6 weeks prenatal and 10 weeks postnatal leave, both of which are paid.

In retrospect, as women continue to gain an upper hand in the working environment this issue is going to become more prevalent within society. That being said, what are your thoughts on the issue? Have you experienced any form of pregnancy discrimination? If so, what’d you do about it?

Sources: http://ti.me/K4KgmC

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