Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge 2008!

Oh my bloggy friends, it is SO good to be back.

***Update - The Bloggy Button is here!! Steal away!***

While I am still busy finishing up my young adult literature class and still working away on a new writing project, that crunch time feeling is less so, and so my bloggy break has come to an end!

Well, for all those of you who have been waiting on(clothes)pins and needles, today I am announcing the start of Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge 2008!! One of my oldest and dearest friends, Sue, has designed an adorable bloggy button for your site - as soon as I can figure out how to bleepin' resize it I will add it to my sidebar for you to steal.

The Clothesline Challenge will run for three months: May, June and July. And your attention please! Your clothesline need not be a traditional line hung between posts in your backyard! You may use your shower curtain rod, your banister, your apartment balcony.

There are three Line Levels: Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced. Chose your Line Level based on what you think you can accomplish over the next three months.

Novice: Using a clothesline (or clothesline-related product) gives you the chills. You have bad memories of a towel burn you got from a crunchy sun-dried towel. You'll give it a try, pledging to dry 10% of your wet laundry (1 item out of ten per load or one load per ten loads) on a clothesline or CRP.

Intermediate: You've been itching to formalize your clothesline (or CRP) and here's your chance. You want to rig up a better system, whatever that may be, and see how much you can save on your energy bills by cutting out the dryer. You pledge to dry 50% (5 out of ten items per load or 5 loads out of ten loads) for the duration on a clotheslines or CRP.

Advanced: Crunchy towels don't scare you! In fact, bring them on! Crunch builds character! In fact, you are running out of space to hang all of your fine and not-so-fine washables. You pledge to dry 90% (9 out of ten items per load or 9 loads out of 10 loads) for the duration on a clothesline or CRP.

To sign up for the challenge, leave a comment stating your Line Level and the type(s) of clothesline(s) you have (just out of pure curiosity on my part). I will post a list of participants on my sidebar linking to your blog (or just your first name and state - whatever you prefer).

Caveats? Can't think of any at the moment. There will be some fun clothesline-related giveaways and lots of links to help you on your non-dryer journey. Stay tuned for more posts related to Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge 2008!!

Thanks for visiting! It's so nice to hear from you again!

Get Ready! GOG Clothesline Challenge 2009!

And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.

~The Great Gatsby

**Update! Get Your GOG 2009 Clothesline Challenge Bloggy Button Here! Thank you, NiniMakes!***

The 2009 Gift of Green Clothesline Challenge began May 1st!!

The Clothesline Challenge will run for four months this year: May, June, July and August. Of course, your clothesline need not be a traditional line hung between posts in your backyard! You may use your shower curtain rod, your banister, your apartment balcony, or a clotheshorse, of course, of course.

There are four Line Levels this year: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Super Star. Choose your Line Level based on what you think you can accomplish over the next four months.

Novice: Using a clothesline (or clothesline-related product) gives you the chills. You have bad memories of a towel burn you got from a crunchy sun-dried towel. You'll give it a try, pledging to dry 10% of your wet laundry (1 item out of ten per load or one load per ten loads) on a clothesline or CRP.

Intermediate: You've been itching to formalize your clothesline (or CRP) and here's your chance. You want to rig up a better system, whatever that may be, and see how much you can save on your energy bills by cutting out the dryer. You pledge to dry 50% (5 out of ten items per load or 5 loads out of ten loads) for the duration on a clotheslines or CRP.

Advanced: Crunchy towels don't scare you! In fact, bring them on! Crunch builds character! In fact, you are running out of space to hang all of your fine and not-so-fine washables. You pledge to dry 90% (9 out of ten items per load or 9 loads out of 10 loads) for the duration on a clothesline or CRP.

And this year...Super Star Level: As IF! You don't even OWN a dryer! You dry 100% of your laundry, and you do it almost year round. De Clothes Line Chaaaa-lenge Es Fur Baaaabeees. (Use Terminator voice while reading previous sentence).

To sign up for the challenge, leave a comment stating your Line Level and the type(s) of clothesline(s) you have (just out of pure curiosity on my part). I will post a list of participants on my sidebar linking to your blog (or just your first name and state - whatever you prefer).

Caveats? Can't think of any at the moment. There will be some fun clothesline-related giveaways (and I promise to mail them out ON TIME; I am post officially-challenged) and lots of links to help you on your non-dryer journey.

Clothesline Challenge Bloggy Button is Here!

The Second Annual (and the first annual, for that matter) Clothesline Challenge would not happen without a lot of bloggy friends who are a lot more creative than I (myself? me?). A huge thank you across the pond to... Nini Makes! who designed this year's bloggy button.

Steal away!

[a href="http://giftofgreen.blogspot.com/2009/03/get-ready-gog-clothesline-challenge.html"][img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSirYBhmxMKnGr-K_rxttlnVMKFAxDbyyHg-a8nWbPqiluQQlOS4pyJdWMngFp4gF6PWmwYXF72B0NKXOMXlJ8wPf_48UgiWrnQ7d663LiN3jRUkzfoXymCKLNAsrK4EfHft6mEDS3_o/s400/GOG2009.jpg" alt="Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge 2009"][/a]

(Replace these [ ] with these < > to make the button appear.)

Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge 2008 Bloggy Giveaway!

Okay, first of all...apologies for the delay. We are painting Sprout's room (using EcoSpec which I highly recommend) - therefore no Internet access. Don't ask.

Second, my clothesline collapsed. COLLAPSED, dear friends, collapsed. It was the retractable clothesline that we have in our backyard, and thankfully Green Husband was able to fix it and he set up a second clothesline while he was at it. This weekend we are doing beautifully about about 90%, but I will admit that last week, during the rains, I probably only made it about 30%. So much wet laundry...so little room. Did you check out Amalia's comments? She drys 100% of her clothes on a line from April through October. Fear of a major house fire is one motivating factor.

By now you're saying to yourself...get on with it, woman! Okay. The details on Gift of Green's first Clothesline Challenge 2008 giveaway. If you haven't already guessed, the prize is a beautiful peg bag handmade by the wonderful woman behind Nini Makes. Joanie sent two of these darling oil cloth peg bags: one that I could selfishly keep for myself (and I have used it ever day since its receipt) and the other to give away. Wasn't that absolutely lovely of her? Joanie also sent me an issue of The Green Parent which is such a wonderful magazine straight out of the UK (where Joanie lives). You should see some of the amazing little trinkets, fun shops, and wonderful websites this magazine features. My wish list increased exponentially after reading it (so much for anti-consumerism). This issue also featured a wonderful article, written by Joanie herself, on creating magnetic number and letter boards - adorable! Thank you, Joanie!

To enter this giveaway, you must join the challenge by indicating your line level in the comments. You will be added to the sidebar, and for those of you who are already listed on the sidebar, you are already entered. You need not comment again (unless you want to comment on how adorable the peg bag is...). Please leave your comment by midnight (Eastern U.S. time), Sunday, June 1st. And don't worry - I cannot guarantee that I will get your name onto the sidebar the same day you comment, but I know when you've left a comment and I will be sure you are added by the deadline. One winner will be picked randomly from those who have joined the challenge. And yes...I will ship internationally.

Pictures of my peg bag are forthcoming. We are painting so therefore no ability to upload pictures. Don't ask.

Clothesline Confessions & The Giveaway Revealed

Well, my pretties, let me tell you something...you can bet that I didn't save much money this weekend, not to mention the environment as I did 100%, yes, count 'em, 100% of my drying in the dryer. I mean, there were a few items that were slung over the shower curtain rod or hung from the doorknob, but read it and weep, sisters (and brothers), I was like, below novice...I was like, the anti-novice.

But! No matter! Spit-spot and all that! Tomorrow's another day (albeit a rainy one) and who cares about your THINGS when you can use this great giveaway to take care of your SOUL!

Yes, it's time for the first Clothesline Challenge giveaway...a beautiful eco-friendly yoga mat and strap courtesy of Gift of Green and LotusPad.

Here are the rules because there must be rules!

1) Those of you who have entered the Clothesline Challenge and are listed on my sidebar are automatically entered! If you would like an extra entry, please tweet this giveway and leave a comment at this post letting me know you've done so.

2) Those of you who have not yet entered the Clothesline Challenge, leave a comment at this post letting me know what level you are taking on...you may also get an extra entry by tweeting this giveaway and leaving me a comment at this post letting me know you've done so.

3) All challengers, please go to LotusPad and peruse these beautiful, environment-friendly, biodegradable mats and leave a comment at this post letting me know which mat and which strap you would like should you be the winner!

4) The contest ends at Midnight, Friday, May 22nd and the winner will be randomly picked.

Bloggy Button Code

My gosh, you have all forced me to become a coding genius (NOT!)... Link away!



[a href="http://giftofgreen.blogspot.com/2008/04/gift-of-greens-clothesline-challenge.html"][img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTccomP1vHhzOt1gmNoyods7DHILG3yDPL5fsrTqc3wHZCQhEghWKi5Gpcb9gtVu7C1CFWK7beImJI_P8Q-FhYtKi-YQXRrFawjCYqjEA4cgtx-aYfEr8GdMz49QkgyhFf6uEmLHD7p0/s200/230x119.jpg" alt="Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge"][/a]

(Replace these [ ] with these < > to make the button appear.)

Clothesline Challenge 2011!!!

Yes, Virginia, there will be a Clothesline Challenge 2011.

Newbies, read up on it here and here.

Veterans, dust off your clothespins and find those lines buried under the snow.

Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge 2011 begins May 1st.

Back Home

Greetings, Greenies!

We are back from our very first family vacation to the beach! A good time was had by all and our California Baby sunscreen was put to the test (verdict: you need to be vigilant with the baby version and hyper-reapply especially after swimming). Count this as another Summer Adventure Challenge!

You all are doing so well (read: better than I am) on your Clothesline Challenges and I have received several personal emails letting me know what a difference this Challenge has made both in utility bills and eco-friendly thinking.

Nicol writes: "I want to thank you for inspiring me to clothesline. I am also at advanced now and clothesline 99% of our laundry. My gas bill was cut by 42% in just one month. So I thank you for your challenge! :)

Kelli writes: "Hiya Amy, I think I'm ready to bump up from "novice" to "intermediate" on your clothesline challenge!"

Amanda chattered: "So far clothesline-ing has been groovy! While it's rather rainy around here, every once in a while I get a nice sunny day so I try to wait for those to do my laundry :) and hopefully it also lands on a weekend and I can do multiple loads."

Welcome to the Circus joined late, and I neglected to add her to my sidebar in a timely fashion, and she joins us at Intermediate! Welcome, Kathleen!



Hope you all are well. I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you.

Clothesline Challenge - Just Hanging Around

I am thrilled that we already have several souls who are willing to get creatively crunchy in the quest for air drying goodness.

Kate from Ramble on Rose joins us with a traditional backyard clothesline, as does yours truly.

Dayna from fo.ne.tic.lee speaking joins us for year number two and writes, "My line is between an old tall pine and a super shiny eye hook on my daughters swing set. I even got a middle of the line extending pole holder thing-a-ma-jig last summer." Hmmm...we may need a photo of that thing-a-ma-jig, Dayna.

Ames at Yay! Pie! is terrified of crunchy towels, but she has added two collapsible wooden drying racks to her arsenal.

Maxine is laaaahfing at all ower leeetle baaaaby steps, as she never really took a break from line drying after last year's challenge. Bonus, her blog Green Across Texas is now featuring a post on her homemade laundry detergent.

Another reader has been line drying away since last summer's challenge, putting me to absolute SHAME! And let me tell you something...she lives where it is cold, like, 10 months out of the year. TEN! Like, I think sometimes they only get daylight for a few hours. Do I have that right, Jen?

And welcome to our newest participant and for alerting us to Project Laundry List, just a bunch of people hanging around. Get it? Hanging around?

Remember, it is never too late to join the Clothesline Challenge 2009!

Clothesline Challege a la Carte

For those of you who have patiently followed me through my dry and prolific spells, you will know that I hosted a Clothesline Challenge two years in a row.  Thanks to some nifty assistance from Joanie and Dayna, we had some bloggy buttons and a couple of give-aways, and a lot, it seems, of participants!

But last year I was a bit lax, and not wanted to disappoint, I decided not to host the Clothesline Challenge this summer.  And wouldn't you know, we've had a string of weeks, yes, weeks! of sunny, humid weather in the upper 90s.  Perfect for the clothesline (well, maybe not the humid part).  So, I ask, have you been clotheslining it this summer?

On a side note, we spend the better part of the morning in an air-conditioned mall where we were treated to the site of Mia Hamm and her husband, no doubt keeping cool as they shopped with their daughters.  Thanks to Green Husband for spotting this very cool...in all senses of the word...family.

And from the Where Have I Been? department, Big Binder has moved, MOVED! I tell you.  She can now be found here and has a nice post up on greening your laundry (Well,  she mentions me in her most recent post but I swear I did not know this before I linked to her new blog.  We have some sort of psychic bond going back to our love of all things Carter Cash.)

The First (So I Suppose There Will Be Others) Clothesline Challenge Giveaway!!

OMG! The first Clothesline Challenge giveaway.

I have the item in my hot little hands and I cannot wait to send this adorable prize jetting off to some lucky winner.

Need a hint? Try here and here.

And stay tuned for the entry deadline (although if you've already signed up for the Challenge with your Line Level, you're already entered) and the big reveal.

Anon! Five Green Outings With Kids in Northern Virginia

Anon, anon, hey nonny, nonny.

It has been a while since I've done a top ten (or in this case, top five) list and Anonymous suggested a nice topic in the comments section of my last post: green kid-friendly excursions for those of us in Northern Virginia. So let's take a break from the clothesline chit-chat and talk about...

Five Green Kid-Friendly Excursions in Northern Virginia

1) When you say lock, I think key. When you say high, I think low. When your say goodbye, I say...oh, nevermind. But when you say green, I think outdoors. If you are truly in the North of Virginia (I'm thinking you...Arlingtonians) than you must check out these Arlington Walkabouts. This one is even wheelchair-accessible and includes stops for food to give those little ones a boost. So get walking before the weather gets to muggy to do so.

2) Last year I wrote about the spray parks in Arlington and I waxed poetic about how eco-friendly they are because they recirculate the water they use. Now I'm not so certain about that. Is it cheating if I list our two favorite spots with a "to be continued" caveat? And let me also warn you..."One of these parks doesn't have a restroom...tell me...can you guess which one? Before my song is done."

3) The Claude Moore Colonial Farm should be paying me a commission based on the number of folks I've sent their way. I wrote about it way back when I was still blogging for DC Metro Moms, and it remains one of our most favorite summer destinations. Think you're having problems with the clothesline challenge? Try a washing machine challenge...or toilet challenge...or central heating challenge for that matter.

4) Rosebud! Rosebud! Er...wait! I meant Greenspring!, Greenspring! Doris Frances Gurney wrote "The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth." The same could be said for nearer a child's heart and Greenspring will give you ample opportunity to let them run free over the great lawn, the wooded paths and the children's garden (currently being renovated but picnic-friendly nonetheless).

5) Okay...I'm cheating again here because I've never done this before but it just looks so frickin' fun! Letterboxing! In Virginia! Learn it, live it, love it (I'm guessing)...but also kind of be safe and if some of these instructions are a bit dated there may be a tad bit of disappointment involved. Nonetheless nothing can be better than finding treasures hidden among the roots and shoots.

What's your favorite NOVA eco-friendly activity with kids?

On a side note, I must be getting old because quotes like these are starting to make me tear up... "The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow, For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow. So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep. I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."

Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge 2008 Bloggy Button!

Thanks to my local friend Sue, who designed the button, and my bloggy friend Dayna, who resized the button, Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge is now off and running with a real, honest to goodness button for your blog!

This past weekend was the perfect weather for line drying here in Plant Hardiness Zone Seven. Although my poor, dear husband who was only trying to help: he comes bounding downstairs only to have me snap, "Is that the dryer? Did you just turn on the dryer?" I think I may need to relax a little. Anyway - so far 100% CRP-dry: a combination of outdoor line, some children's clothing on hanger hung from the shower curtain rod, and a few odds and ends draped over this and that has kept us honest so far. We shall see...

Green Chit Chat

A big thank you so much to the three of you who have already signed up for this year's Clothesline Challenge!

Robin from Simple.Green.Organic.Happy, my very forgiving penpal from Australia, and Willo from Green Gracious jumped right on board within hours of my posting.  And the official challenge doesn't even start until May 1st!

This year I promise not to be as lazy and offer some more green giveaways.  I'm teaming up with a blogger-soon-to-be-revealed who is quite fabric-crafty and who will no doubt have some clothesline-related doo-dads up her sleeve(s). 

As we get closer to spring, I always like to peruse the latest edition of Kids Garden News from kidsgardening.org.  Two items stood out:

If you are in the Grand Rapids/East Lansing area of the country, the 19th Annual Children & Youth Gardening Symposium will be held there towards the end of July.  Many moons ago Green Husband presented at this conference and I tagged along.  If they are offering garden tours this year, be sure to take advantage of this very inspiring opportunity.

Are you a teacher?  In the mood for a lot of slaw?  Know a third grade class who would like to raise some cabbages?  Then check out Bonnie Plants 3rd Grade Cabbage Program.  I mean, really, is there anything more that can be said about this...?

And finally I leave you with a fitting and timely excerpt from a poem by Jane Kenyon, one of my favorite poets.

The shadow of smoke rising from the chimney
moves abruptly over the yard.
The clothesline rises in the wind. One
wooden pin is left, solitary as a finger;
it, too, rises and falls.

from "Bright Sun after Heavy Snow" by Jane Kenyon, from The Boat of Quiet Hours. © Graywolf Press, 1986.

Sorry to leave you hanging...

so to speak! We have so many new clothesline challenge members from all around the world, I'm happy to report!

Here are a few friends that have recently joined us:

Patricia, aka Sunflower Mama, writes, "We're Super Star/Advanced. I hang everything. My husband does not. But having a husband who helps with laundry is good enough for me. He can throw it in the dryer. =) In May we washed 18 loads, hung 16. For June we're 2 for 2.
I have three lines. Two go from the back porch to a tree. The last one is between two trees. I don't have anything for indoors. I hang outside year round. It just takes a load 1-2 days in the winter, compared to 1-2 hours in the summer. Thank you for hosting"

My pleasure, Sunflower Mama, and wow!, good work on your high clothesline to dryer ratio!

My dear friend (can I call you that, Susiej?) sent an update as quick as her slow internet access at the lake would allow: "I am using my clothesline!!! But, forgot to post about this... when I get my fast internet connection back, I will post this."

Keren checked in all the way from Israel to say, "I think I earned the super-star level. I hate the dryer and never use it. I live in sunny Israel and it's a pity not to use the natural sun, which gives me the feeling that not only does it dry the clothes but also cleans some stains.
great challenge! keep up the good work!"

Same to you, Keren!!

Clothesline Challege Giveaway!

Get ready, Hardy Hangers! It's mid-May so it's time for the first of the Clothesline Challenge 2009 giveaways!

Remember, those of you who are listed on the sidebar are automatically entered! You'll be able to Twitter for another entry (yes, I've turned into one of THOSE).

And for those of you who have not yet taken the Clothesline plunge, now's the time. In fact, we need more Novices! Don't let those Advanced Super Stars intimidate you! Let it Shine! Put Up a Line! (I'm so losing it).

And here's a hint as I finalize the giveaway: OM.

Summer Garden 2008, Redux

Three things today...

First of all...was it just me or was Google down today? Don't *ever* do that to me again, Google. You're scaring me.

Second, I have the Accidental Guest Blogger today: Green Nana. Today's post is "ripped from the headlines", er, I mean, her email. Take it away, Green Nana (who, by the way, lives in plant hardiness zone 5a, I believe)! [Warning - see the kind of coded messages from her I have to decipher on a daily basis?!]

re: blog....i also got the planting season bug....but jumped the gun
up here in cold ma. did buy lettuce seeds, but the "seed starting soil" bags are not yet at home depot or lex. gardens! i did take some
cutting to see what was wrong with my bushes......needs fertilizer was
the answer! trying to find coast of me." organic soil bags i will not buy
"scotts" here is a seedling tip......use the paper egg cartons to start seedlings and then you can just plant the whole thing when the plants get big enough because the
cardboard will just disintegrate into the soil:) hugs, mom

Thanks, Green Nana: the "original" Gift of Green!

And finally, as Green Nana reminded me, it is almost time...get ready...for Clothesline 2008! Woohooo! I am thinking of some type of clothesline challenge this summer for my bloggy friends - which brings me to this: is there anyone out there who will design a Clothesline 2008 bloggy button for me? I have nothing to offer in return except credit and a link back atcha.

Barefoot Books, Tofu Tuesdays, & Clothesline Clubs

I love a little alliteration.

Happy hello to Horse Medicine, winner of this weekend's bloggy book giveaway. HM, please contact me with your address and I will ship The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales out to you pronto! Thank you all for taking the time to comment. I have more bloggy book giveaways coming up, so stay tuned!

Talking Tofu, Kelli over at Gohn Crazy and Kaci of Ellyphant are teaming up to bring you Tofu Tuesday, a little opportunity to eat a little lower on the food chain. It officially starts on March 17th when you will be able to link to your Tofu Tuesday tip using Mr. Linky. And is the TT badge adorable or what?!:


Brought to you by...
Kaci@Ellyphant & Kelli@Gohn Crazy

Oh, and speaking of (what, I don't know), you can bet your bottom dollar that Gift of Green will be hosting the second annual Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge. It will begin June 1, and although that sounds a long way off, it's never too early to start perusing those clothesline catalogs! Will you join us this year and exercise your right to dry!?

Green Musings

Jinkies, we have a lot of catching up to do!

It just seems that with the coming of spring the opportunities for getting into the green of things are endless!

April 1st is right around the corner and that means I will be turning over a new leaf (for two months, anyway). I will be joining Mamas on the Compact where I pledge to eliminate the purchase of new items. Gulp. Anyone care to join me?

Have you heard the buzzzzzzzzz about "The Great Sunflower Project" out of San Francisco State University? My good friend Lakshmi alerted me to this site where participants can help researchers achieve their goal of increasing our understanding of where bees are doing poorly and how the pollination of our garden and wild plants are being affected.

Say project leaders: "We're hoping you will join us by planting sunflowers in your garden. Community, demonstration, and school gardens are invited to participate. We'll send you some free native sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed and twice a month, we'd like you to time how long it takes for 5 bees to visit one flower on that sunflower. This information will give us an index of pollination that we can compare across the United States."

Win some gardening goodies from the National Gardening Association when you enter their When You Garden You Grow giveaway.

I have two great bloggy book give-aways coming up! Stay tuned for a chance to win a copy of the Holistic Moms Network's cookbook "Growing Healthy Families" and, just in time for Spring (or a little late), Leslie Evan's beautifully illustrated Spring acrostic book.

And finally, I am super excited to say that as my good friend Sue toils over my blog button, I am gearing up to give you details on "Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge 2008"!! The challenge will begin May 1st and I hope you'll sign on for the summer! More details coming up soon!

Green Updates on the Fly

Love the efforts of Work From Home Moms (WFHMs) who have lovely items displayed in their home grown (with love) shops. Jillian emailed me to let me know about hers at Paxbaby.

Her Bad Mother asks "Are Eco-Moms the new soccer moms - and does it matter?" on Blogher.

Woman's Day suggests 10 green ways to lose weight.

Green Bean extolls the power of line drying!

My bloggy friend Joan from across the pond writes:

When it's wet or snowy here in Europe, most people use an indoor clothes airer. This is what we use at the moment and a clothesline when it's warmer out.

We used to have one of these ceiling airers (usually called "dolly maids") and these are my favourite. Most are large enough to hold a large load of laundry.

Looks like several people are already good to go for Gift of Green's Clothesline Challenge 2008!

Report from New Zealand: Bloggy Friend Mary reports from a recent trip to New Zealand that it is a very eco-friendly country. "The cars are smaller, every toilet has a low flush option, every electrical outlet has its own on/off switch so that you can turn off the flow when you're not using the applicance....Oh, and you can't find foods containing high fructose corn syrup if your life depended on it; it just doesn't exist there in foods." As Mary says, Woot!