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Today the famous puppet, Kermit the Frog, might sing, "it's a little easier being green." Or would he?

Kermit was born in 1955, and he grew up green during a time when there were no green products, green designs, green houses or green people. The only green jobs were those performed by folks like landscapers, nurserymen, arborists and farmers who had to work with nature to grow healthy plants.

When Kermit reached 18, people were talking a lot about the environment. Powered by a shortage of oil and a nuclear catastrophe, their conversations carried on for a few years, but it didn't last. Earth-assault practices prevailed.   

In the 1990s, the group called the U.S. Green Building Council began using his skin color to describe shelter construction that was friendlier to the environment then the typical building. Green meant the man-made habitat was healthier for inhabitants and operated in better synergy with nature. In and beyond the construction industry, green became a powerful, smart word.

Imagine. Kermit's color was suddenly powerful, smart and hip. He wasn't really sure how to act after 40 years living as an outcast.

He found shelves filled with more products wearing green costumes every time he hopped to the store. Instinct helped him recognize the imposters.

Today, thanks to more oil and energy production catastrophes, he hears humans talking about the environment once again. His worries about his friends and family members who are suffering in oil-slicked swamps.

Kermit understands that wearing green skin requires sacrifice. He can't shed it in the name of convenience nor take it off when everyone else is wearing polka dots. His home is cleanest when he doesn't clutter it with a bunch of stuff no matter how green the label wrapped around the purchases.

Kermit knows who his real friends are -- those who stood up for him when no one else would. Like a rock star who has made it to the top, he has to be careful to remain true to himself and his pond. It may be more popular, but it still isn't easy being green.

You may have read the flyer. You may have seen the signs. Philadelphia's PECO electric company wants your old refrigerator.

PECO Appliance Recycling

A lovely woman asked me this question recently, and I still laugh to myself when I remember my answer. It was, "no."

It just flew out of my mouth. While I had no interest in the multi-level marketing business that she wanted me join, I of course would like to add to my income. She asked a trick question.

Then I came home to find a writing gig like no other.  A Taste of Home Magazine and Ziploc®  want to award someone $25,000 for their good idea.

Their Website says, "Do you have a creative way you use Ziploc Brand Bags or Containers? Tell us about your everyday solution in 100 words or less and you could win!  Entries submitted via the internet must be received by June 30, 2010...Winners will be notified on August 16."

Do you want to add $25,000 to your income at a rate of $250 per word?  Um....yes.  However, I don't think they'll want to hear about how I wash out my lightly used bags and containers in an attempt to buy fewer Ziplocs. So, if you've got a clever idea, give it shot:
Contest Website

Winter is almost at its end. With spring comes a desire for fresh air, inside and out. This is the time when household project ideas replace the dusty thoughts of ways to escape the cold.

It's the time of year when you notice just how cluttered the house got since summer ended. The forgotten holiday decoration, the unfinished craft project, the piles of tax preparation paperwork, and all those worn out sweaters begin to crowd your senses. It's funny how an early warm day -- that first occasion to open a window -- can invigorate us to clean out and get a fresh start.

OK, some of us get more motivated than others. In fact parting with possessions can be very difficult regardless of how useless, obsolete or ratty the items are. As an organizational consultant for 10 years, I came up against the issue regularly.

For example, I remember one women who told me about her crowded attic. When I asked her to give me an example of what was up there, she closed her eyes to remember and said, "The first thing is my box of knitting supplies."

I asked, "Do you still knit?"

"No, not anymore," she replied.

"Well then why do you have it?"

"I guess I wish I would have finished the project. I guess I wish I'd pick it up again someday," she said. I could tell by her voice that she never would.

Her sewing box now stood as a trophy commemorating the goal she never met. And since it was the first thing she came to in the attic, it served to punish her for her lack of achievement every time she entered the storage area.

I encouraged her to donate the material and let someone else turn the clutter into a warm blanket or other useful item. I reminded her that, by removing the box, she can make way for a new goal -- one that can be accomplished and can deliver a sense of achievement.

She suddenly seemed as if she couldn't wait to get home to the attic, and I could see in her eyes that she already knew what would take knitting's place. It didn't matter what that replacement was. What mattered is that she turned from downtrodden to motivated.

That's what spring cleaning is all about: taking a deep, strong breath and moving on towards a new season.

I watched Oprah Winfrey's television show yesterday. Her correspondent took us to places the average American NEVER gets to see. One of these was a nun's convent in Michigan. (Show title: Keeping the Faith)

Here, women as young as 18 tiptoe through life in marriage to Jesus Christ. The youngest and oldest among them went on camera to describe the freedom that came from two vows in particular: poverty and chastity. The piece showed how deeply satisfied the nuns are with their choice to follow their calling.

Religious views aside, I could not deny that their poverty vow mirrored a key theme in this Back-to-Basics Blog. We are so inundated with material things that we will likely never be satisfied, no matter how luxuriously we live.  

And the vow of chastity is not much different. Due to an obsession with self-image, we will likely never be pretty enough, no matter how perfect we look.  

At a convent, these absurdities are shut off, and each women is free. But for those of us who do not have the religious calling to give themselves to a man we've never met (and willingness to share that man with thousands), we are stuck with shutting out the senselessness on our own.

The nun feels peace because she has dedicated herself to a husband whose ideals match her own, and everyone around her shares this dedication. Meanwhile, we must fend for ourselves and often conflict with the aspirations of many of our acquaintances: our housemates, our friends, our family, our coworkers, strangers, and even the television and Internet. We struggle for the nun's freedom without incarceration behind a convent's walls.

It's important to keep in mind that going against the grain of society should not be a dedication. Society is an unpredictable and constantly changing thing. Dedication to peace, harmony, good health, and a light step on the earth leads to a deeper satisfaction than avoidance or rebellion ever could.

Freedom from materialism and self obsession can be achieved. It's not easy, but neither is moving away from your family and loved ones to enter a convent for the rest of your life.

It was intended be just a brief, personal introduction. Last Saturday, when I took my recyclables to Recycling Services, Inc., I met the center's President, Jim Crater.  I found it ironic that the sun blinded me as I talked with this solar power and waste reduction guru.

It soon became clear that Jim was not going to let me off with a quick "hello; I'm a writer; I'll be in touch." He had stuff to say -- words that should be said -- words that I almost couldn't keep up with -- and if I was going to listen, he was going to talk.

After 10 minutes, it was closing time, and I still had items to distribute into one of over 20 different bins. And Jim's volunteers were ready to wrap it up on the 50-degree, winter afternoon, so we agreed to talk again and said goodbye.  

Afterward, his words swirled around in my head. Since 1971 he has been building this oldest community recycling center in Pennsylvania, and while he takes more types of material than any other in America, he'd really prefer we stop generating the waste in the first place. He has real solutions to our waste problems. He lives the philosophy, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"...in that order...saving recycling for the last resort.

You'll hear more about Jim from me in the near future.  In the meantime, you can learn more about Recycling Services, Inc. by clicking here. 

I am the proud owner of a shiny new Cannondale Comfort 5 bicycle.

While in the bike shop, I saw a banner that described bicycling as a solution to two of our big problems:  high gas prices and sedentary lifestyles. Unfortunately, just buying the bicycle isn't the solution. It's first necessary to get out of the car and onto the bike.

I am fortunate to live in an area where recreational, non-motorized vehicle trails exist, and more are being installed every day. Not only are these trails fun to ride, but they serve as corridors for alternative transportation. If I wanted to, I could ride from my house in the rural suburbs to the center of Philadelphia on a network of trails, many of which follow old railroad beds.

So why don't I ride instead of drive? The weather is one obvious reason, but that excuse goes away when the sun is shining and the humidity drops. I could say that I don't have time, but I'm an advocate for slowing down. If I rode instead of drove, I wouldn't need to block out time for exercise; could work a few minutes less because of the gas saved; and could take advantage of some mental downtime.

My professional appearance upon arrival is currently a valid reason because I'm out of shape, and it's still summertime. I wouldn't exactly look good sporting "helmet hair" while wearing a sweat-ringed collared shirt, but even this excuse only works for the few occasions when my appearance matters.

And like most Americans, biking is not in my daily routine. I'm out of shape as a result (which becomes another excuse) and know only how long it takes me to drive from one place to the next. I have no idea how long it takes me to ride these same distances, which makes planning difficult.

Tomorrow I must attend a 9am meeting at an office just 15 minutes from my house. The forecast is for a gorgeous day. The topic for the meeting is promoting outdoor recreation in our beautiful area. This would be a perfect opportunity to use my 24-speed bike. So again, why don't I ride instead of drive?

Safety. Yes, there are trails available, but there are places where I would need to use the roadways in spots treacherous enough that I would fear for my life. Every time I consider biking, my good intentions are shot down by fear for my own safety. 

Next time you are racing around in your car and come upon a biker, please give him or her plenty of room and courtesy. Don't think of them as someone in your way; think of them as a person who is solving two problems at once. 

And when you get frustrated with your municipal officials for spending money on recreational trails in your neighborhood, remember that these trails are infrastructure. They serve as roadways of a different kind. They are also a healthcare solution, providing motivation and framework for exercise with no gym membership required.

Are you a biker? Are you scared to ride on the roads?

My mind is filled with unanswered questions...maybe you can help me with some of these:

Why are the tails always left unshelled when a shrimp dish is prepared?

Why do some smokers prefer a clean car interior to a littered environment?

Why are free couches always put at the roadside on the morning of a rainstorm?

Why does it matter that our coffee filters are bleached white before we use them?  What about toilet paper?

Why do American landowners feel that grass holds more value than trees?

Thousands of boy scouts pitched their tents in my neighborhood recently. They were attending their annual jamboree in Green Lane Park, and despite a torrential rainstorm, each campsite was set up neat and tidy. Besides possessing the knowledge of how to properly set up a tent, they also must have had a truckload of tarps, rope, stakes, hammers, (Band-Aids,) and towels.

Moms are another fortified group, always ready with whatever implement is necessary to fend off the next disaster. It sure is nice when she has just what you need, right when you need it, but at what cost to her sanity? I mean it takes a lot of advanced thought to ensure that all bases are covered, and that does not leave much time for listless daydreaming (a.k.a. relaxing).

If I were a CFO, I suppose I would look to a return-on-investment analysis for the answer. How good is it to have just the right thing when you need it? Is it worth the investment of time and thought to have packed it and have lugged it around, only to store it away again when you get home? I say,  "if not, then forget it and be consciously unprepared."

I don't think those boy scouts would agree, or at the very least they would still be drying out from the rain. And while we may envy them for their preparedness, I wonder how often the troop leader wants to say, "Ah, the heck with it."

So many of us wish away the end of winter. Meanwhile, we lose out on a great opportunity to prepare for spring.

Before we know it, we'll have too much to do. The days of chopping wood will be replaced with trimming bushes, spreading mulch, mowing grass, and even painting shutters.

Spring can be a pleasant experience, a chance to take in some sunshine and get the house looking spiffy again. But if your tools aren't ready for the job, it can be a frustrating mess.

Now is the time to take advantage of that spring fever and get your tools ready for some hard work. Replace broken handles. Prepare to tune up the lawn mower. Order the worn out grill parts. Address all the things that weren't properly put away in the fall.

"Clean tools do more work with less labor." - Living the Good Life, Helen & Scott Nearing

Are you ready for spring?