Title
The Story Of Stuff
Annie Leonard, from The Story of Stuff Project, was on the Stephen Colbert show tonight promoting her new book about the project.
I’ve got to confess to being a lifelong fan of stuff. I’m a collector – some might say packrat – and really like my stuff. Why have one of something when five or six or a dozen is so much more satisfying? George Carlin’s routine about stuff where he describes our houses as piles of stuff with roofs on top hit pretty close to home.
I’m reforming, though, and in December celebrated my third anniversary of being storage-unit free. Admittedly that’s due in large part to an attic crammed to the rafters – but still – it’s an improvement.
What appeals to me though is typically second-hand if not antique. Our throw-away culture worries me and the endless array of stunningly cheap imported merchandise that fills big box stores gives me the willies.
Nowadays it’s too easy to buy and buy and put the week’s trash out at the curb. Too little thought is paid to how all that stuff gets here and where it goes when discarded.
Annie Leonard spent ten years studying just that- “where our stuff comes from and where it goes” and this video is the result. Watch it and pass it on!
Fresh Pond Greenway – Condos at 773 Concord Ave Cambridge
Fresh Pond Greenway Condos - 773 Concord Avenue, Cambridge
Fresh Pond Greenway at 773 Concord Avenue, Cambridge MA is a 25-unit condo building built in 2006. The four-story building was built to Energy Star standards. You’re sure to save on your energy bills here since the building is 30% better insulated than required by state building codes.
Cambridge real estate buyers will appreciate the access to Fresh Pond Reservation across the street and the proximity to the Red Line subway station at Alewife. Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, a movie theatre, and more are nearby.
Fresh Pond Greenway Features
- One to three-bedroom condos, 680-1449 sq.ft.
- Elevator
- Garage parking and guest parking
- In unit washer and dryer
- Central air conditioning
- Eco friendly dual flush toilets (the first time toilets have made my features lists!!)
- Kitchens with granite counters, stainless steel Energy Star appliances, and shaker style maple cabinets
- Pet friendly
- Outside common area for grilling
Condo Sales at 773 Concord Ave – Fresh Pond Greenway
- Fresh Pond Greenway condos sold for prices between $282,500 and $584,000.
- In 2008, a 686 sq.ft. one-bedroom condo sold for $287,000
- In 2008, a 1427 sq.ft. three-bedroom condo sold for $500,000
More Cambridge Condominiums
Cambridge Condos With Swimming Pools
Newport Road Condos in Porter Square
And if you want more – click on the Property Info link below for lots more condo overviews.
The Fresh Pond Greenway condos are at 773 Concord Avenue, Cambridge Mass 02138.
Weatherize Your Old House – Medford Class
Is this the right insulation for an antique home? Come to this Medford presentation to find out.
Brrrr!! It’s nippy out! Wondering how to weatherize your old house? An upcoming Medford class is geared to homeowners of antique houses who want to make upgrades to save energy but don’t want to jeopardize the original character of their vintage home.
Greening the Older Home is sponsored by the Medford Historical Society.
Topics to be covered:
- Insulation
- Windows
- Lighting
- Exterior sealing
- Renewable energy options
Panelists:
- Sally Zimmerman, Preservation Specialist, Historic New England
- Rebecca Williams from the Northeast Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Christopher Skelly of the Massachusetts Historical Commission
Greening the Older Home is scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
The program will take place at the Springstep building at 98 George P. Hassett Drive (next to Medford City Hall and the Route 93 Rotary).
Christmas Tree Recycling
Wondering how to dispose of your Christmas tree? The best option is to recycle your tree. Here’s information about Christmas tree recycling and pickup in local towns. Timeliness is important - most towns have a short schedule for Christmas tree pickup.
Trees left for recycling must be bare – free of tinsel, not bagged, and without a stand attached.
Wreaths and garlands are wrapped in wire and cannot be left for mulch pickup. Wreaths and garlands should be disposed of with your trash.
Christmas Tree Pickup in Cambridge
Cambridge recycled over 4700 trees last year. Trees are chipped and spread as mulch in City landscaping projects.
Cambridge will pick up trees for mulching on your regular trash and recycle day from December 28th to January 8, 2010.
Somerville Christmas Tree Recycling
Somerville picks up trees for mulching during January. After January trees that are left out will be picked up as regular trash. For more information call the Somerville DPW at 617-666-3311.
Arlington Christmas Tree Pickup Schedule
Leave your Christmas tree in Arlington curbside for recycling on your regular trash day during the week of January 11 to 15, 2010.
Watertown Christmas Tree Recylcing
Xmas trees will be picked up curbside during January and chipped for recycling. Call the Watertown DPW at 617-972-6420 for more information.
Medford Christmas Tree Disposal
In Medford you can put your tree on the curb on your regular trash pickup day. Supposedly Waste Management brings trees to a compost facility.
Belmont Christmas Tree Pickup
Unfortunately in Belmont trees are left out with the trash and are not recylced.
Don’t see your Massachusetts town listed here or missed your local Christmas tree recycling pickup? Here’s a link to a local landscaping company that accepts organic materials for dropoff. I’m not sure of costs entailed - and they sell mulch too - call Landscape Express in Woburn at 781-933-3818 for more info.
It’s really too bad that some towns don’t turn Christmas trees into compost. Some Boy Scout troops are starting tree pickup projects where, for a small donation, Scouts will come by and pick up trees for recycling. If you can’t get your town on board with turning trees into mulch perhaps a project by the Boy Scouts would be well received.
Turn Your Cambridge Yard Into a Wildlife Habitat
Certified Wildlife Habitat in Cambridge
When I spotted this sign in the Agassiz neighborhood during our weekly tour of new Cambridge real estate listings I couldn’t help but be intrigued. How did this city yard become a Certified Wildlife Habitat?
Turns out it’s a program from the National Wildlife Federation, which I know best as the publishers of Ranger Rick, my brother’s favorite magazine when he was a kid and nature buff.
To qualify your yard – no matter how small – as a Certified Wildlife Habitat you’ll need:
- Food sources
- Water sources
- Places for cover
- Places to raise young
- Sustainable gardening
Read more about the Certified Wildlife Habitat program.
It sounds like a fun and rewarding project for the whole family. I’m planning on adding a bird bath to my yard as I work my way through the steps.
Community Gardens In Cambridge
Winter’s coming to an end and soon it will be time to think about gardening. Perhaps you’ve been dreaming about the vegetables you could grow. Or maybe you hope to fill your home with flowers that don’t come from the store.
Where Can I Find a Community Garden?
If you live in Cambridge, MA and don’t have a garden plot to call your own – don’ t despair. Cambridge has thirteen community gardens spread across the city and preference is given to those who don’t have access to land for gardening. There does seem to be more demand than available plots, however, and a lottery system is used to assign plots to prospective gardeners.
Community Gardens in Cambridge, Massachusetts
North Cambridge Community Gardens
Whittemore Avenue Garden – Whittemore Ave. & Magoun Street
McMath Park Community Garden – Pemberton Street
Corcoran Park Community Garden – Walden Street
West Cambridge Community Gardens
William G. Maher Park Community Garden – 650 Concord Ave. at Neville Manor
Fresh Pond Reservation / Parkway Garden – Fresh Pond Parkway
Community Garden in the Agassiz Neighborhood
Sacramento Street Community Garden – Sacramento Street
Riverside Community Gardens
Field of Dreams Garden – Elmer and Banks Streets
Green Street Neighborhood Garden – Green and Bay Streets
Cambridgeport Community Gardens
Peggy Hayes Memorial Garden – Watson Street
Emily Garden – Brookline and Emily Streets
Area 4 Community Gardens
Squirrel Brand Community Garden – Broadway and Boardman Street
Moore Street Community Garden – Moore Street
Community Garden in East Cambridge
Costa Lopez Taylor Park Community Garden – Lopez Ave. and Charles Street
Belmont Recycling Restrictions
It seems that many towns and cities are tightening recycling restrictions in response to recycling facilities cracking down on contaminated loads. Belmont, Massachusetts has posted the new regulations on the Town of Belmont website.
Recycling regulations for Belmont:
Comingled Containers
“Comingling” means that metal, plastic and glass containers can be mixed in your recycling bin. Containers must be clean and rinsed.
Acceptable Containers
- Plastic containers marked 1-7
- Tin cans
- Aluminum cans
- Glass bottles and jars - clear or colored
- Aluminum foil, trays and pie plates
Examples Of Unnacceptable Materials
- Plastic chairs
- Children’s toys and play equipment
- Laundry baskets
- Swimming pools
- Window glass
- Mirrors
- Pyrex
- Ceramics
- Etc.
Paper and Corrugated Cardboard
Acceptable Paper
Paper should be placed in brown bags next to your recycling bin
- Office paper including colored paper, computer paper, fax paper and post-its
- File folders
- Catalogues
- Envelopes with or without windows
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Telephone books
- Paperboard
- Junk mail
- Chipboard (ex: cereal boxes, shoe boxes)
- Kraft paper bags
Rules For Corrugated Cardboard
- Must be free of moisture barrier and wax content
- Cardboard must be flattened and cut into pieces no larger than 2 ft. by 2 ft.
- Cardboard can be included with other paper recyclables in brown paper bags or tied with string in bundles
Materials Not Accepted For Recycling
- Hardcover books
- Contaminated paper
- Carbon paper
- Mylar
- Wax paper
- Waxed corrugated cardboard
- Tyvek envelopes
- Photograph paper
- Paper towels
- Hanging folders
- Pizza boxes
- Foam packaging
- Plastic bags
- Garbage and rubbish
Somerville Tightens Recycling Regulations
The City of Somerville has cracked down on recycling requirements. Get it right or you’ll be bringing a full bin back into the house!
Prices paid for recyclables have plunged and recycling materials contaminated by banned items can cause entire loads to be rejected by the recycling facilities. Read the rest of this entry »
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