Green is the New Black
Bonnie Treece “Goes Green” and Shares Her Experience
By bonbon (17, , Texas)

My name is Bonnie and I have been a member of YouthNoise since 2003. I am passionate about a lot of issues but have never been much of an environmentalist. I decided to try out YouthNoise’s “Go Green” challenge and share with all of you my challenges and successes while trying to live in a more eco-friendly way. This week I took on the challenge to eat organic, watch out for the dirty dozen and clean green.

Challenge #1: Eat Organic
I do a lot of the grocery shopping and cook some of the meals for my family so I was excited about cooking an organic meal. I prepared baked chicken, macaroni and cheese, green salad, apple slices and ice cream for dessert. The organic macaroni and cheese I bought (Annie's Homegrown: Shells and Real Aged Cheddar) tasted great and compared to the popular Kraft brand had less fat, more fiber, more vitamins and 130 less calories. The chicken I bought had less fat but is also a little smaller so I had to buy extra. The apples were fragrant and the ice cream (Julie’s brand) was rich, creamy and delicious.

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TIPS! Organic food has no preservatives or hormones so food doesn’t last in your fridge or cupboards as long but it tastes incredibly fresh. Remember to buy the food close to when you are going to prepare it so it doesn’t go bad. Try out Annie’s and Julie’s organic brands – I really liked them.
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Eating organic is a little more expensive but worth it because it is fresh and healthier than other brands. I will definitely try out more organic brands when I go grocery shopping from now on!

Challenge #2: Watch Out for the Dirty Dozen
I, like most teenage girls, like using makeup and hair products. I was a little alarmed when I started reading YouthNoise’s article about how certain chemicals that I use in everyday personal care products may be harmful to my health. I didn’t realize that when I had been “cleaning” my face every night I was actually introducing harmful chemicals to my body. I discovered that the talc in my Revlon blush has been shown to cause ovarian cancer and lung tumors. The Phthalates in my NYC nail polish can damage the liver and kidneys. I did discover that one of the products I use, Bella Pierre, is actually very healthy, which is good because I use the makeup almost every day.

At the recommendation from a website called Skin Deep I tried out healthy personal care products from Burt’s Bees. I didn’t really like the shampoo because it was sticky and made my hair feel weird but the conditioner was great and made my hair feel very smooth and my stylist even asked me what I had done to get my hair so shiny! Burt’s Bees body wash and lotion left my skin feeling hydrated and fresh, and the body lotion kept my skin very soft and smooth. I even liked the chap stick. I bought a travel-sized kit of the shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion and chap stick for only $12. It was a great way to try out the products.
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I am glad to be more aware about how many chemicals I put on my face every day. I know that by using organic/natural personal care products keeps me healthy and I also want to learn more about how it helps the environment, too.

Challenge #3: Clean Green
I learned that ordinary household cleaners often contain toxic ingredients that, when dumped down the drain, can contaminate ground water. I understand that the chemicals I use to clean my bathroom are bad for me and the environment but I didn’t realize there are other options. For this challenge I tried out something simple to clean my windows and mirrors. I used some ingredients you can find at home. It worked just as well as Windex but I knew this was better for me and the environment.

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TIPS! Make your own glass/mirror cleaner. Mix 1/3 tsp liquid natural dish cleaner, 3 tbsp vinegar and 2 cups water but it in a spray bottle, shake and spray it on the surface. Wipe with a paper towel or cloth towel.
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I will definitely try some other natural, non-chemical cleaners out in the future! Overall I think the first week of the challenge has taught me a lot and I am excited to see what I learn from week #2! The information on YouthNoise’s web site is really interesting and I am glad YouthNoise started this challenge so that I had the incentive to learn more about how to Go Green.

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• YouthNoise Personal Sustainability Challenge

• Resources: Waste Not, Want Not

• Energy: Where the Sun Don't Shine

• Chemicals: Give the Sludge a Budge

• Reforestation: Hug a Tree