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"Look - it's a bird, it's a plane ... no, it's EcoGirl!"

Ask EcoGirl A syndicated eco-advice column Written by Patricia Dines "Encouraging the eco-hero in everyone!" "Making it easy to be green!"

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. October 2011: Creating Sane Group Dynamics A key way that we can work on eco-issues is through community groups, which allow us to join together in creating a better world. However, these groups are often so fraught with unproductive conflict and covertly harmful personal dynamics that people can shy away from them. Does it have to be that way? Or can we create productive and enjoyable experiences? In this piece, EcoGirl shares her thoughts about how we can constructively take on these groups' inherent challenges in order to build effective teams, move community issues forward, and support our own personal growth! You can read this column in the October issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl5b.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. September 2011: Speaking Effectively for the Earth A reader asks how she can talk to her uncle, who's opposed to President Obama's recent increase in car mileage standards, because he thinks they're only harmful and that global warming isn't real. EcoGirl offers her two quick links to email him that address his key points, and offers her general suggestions for being persuasive in talking with people about eco-issues. You can read this column in the September issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl5a.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. August 2011: Reclaiming the Sun as Our Ally As climate disruption increasingly impacts our everyday lives, and nuclear energy has demonstrated that its risks far outweigh any potential benefits, the question becomes once again: How can we meet our energy needs in eco-friendly ways? A key solution, says EcoGirl, is for us to reclaim the sun as an elemental ally in our quest. Then she offers us a variety of specific creative ways that we can each do just that. After all, the earth receives 20,000 times the energy we use each year, giving us more than enough for our needs. All it takes is for us to put it to use! You can read this column in the August issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4m.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. July 2011: Is There Hope For The Planet? It's easy to feel disheartened seeing all the eco-crises in the world. Is there really hope, or is an early death for the earth just inevitable? EcoGirl answers that there is hope -- to the extent that we take positive actions. That's because the future scenarios aren't black-and-white but a range of outcomes that will unfold in better or worse ways depending on the choices that we make. What's even more exciting though is that we also benefit personally by taking constructive action for the earth and proactively embracing the upcoming changes, because it reduces our pain while creating more fun, aliveness, empowerment, and business opportunity. Why would we choose anything else? You can read this column in the July issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4k.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. May 2011: Love Your Local Activist/Change Agent No matter how bad you think the world is now, imagine how much worse it would be without the change agents (by whatever label or title) who stepped back from their individual lives to imagine and create something better for their communities and our shared future. And yet those of us working for a better world today can often be considered odd ducks in this culture that's so often focused on immediate personal rewards. In this column, EcoGirl speaks up for her team of innovating pioneers, and suggests that a smart culture welcomes and nurtures its change agents, valuing their essential role in steering wisely and avoiding collective disaster. She hopes that you'll be empowered by this perspective -- and share it with others! You can read this column in the May issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4j.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. April 2011: Detoxing Our Products & Our World How can we truly protect ourselves from the multiple toxics permeating our products, bodies, and world, given the overwhelming evidence that they're threatening both our health and the planet? This column describes some key resources to avoid toxics in our personal lives, as well as two approaches being taken to stop toxics at their source, Green Chemistry and California's Green Chemistry Initiative. You can read this column in the April issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4i.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. March 2011: Detoxing Cookware A reader asks how to avoid the toxic PFCs used to make nonstick pans and other consumer products. "What are our options?", she wonders. "Those nonstick pans are so useful!" This month's column describes the issues with PFCs, what products they're in, and how to help reduce our exposure by buying healthier cookware and more. You can read this column in the March issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4h.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. February 2011: Are Smart Phones Green? Smart phones, MP3 players, and other mobile devices are sprouting up all over the place. But are they good or bad for the earth? To help answer that question, EcoGirl walks through her assessment process for her latest purchase, the iPod Touch. The web version of this article also has additional information, resources, and app recommendations! You can read this column in the February issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4g.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. January 2011: Connecting With Your Eco-Passion Most of us love the earth, but amidst life's busyness, how do we make sure we follow through with our good intentions to take care of her this year? EcoGirl offers constructive tips for eco-motivating yourself in ways that bypass "should" and shame, and instead are fun, inspirational, and aligned with your other goals in life. Nurturing the earth can be a fun way to nurture YOU! You can read this column in the January issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4f.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. December 2010: Nurturing Authentic Holiday Green With so many companies claiming to be green, how do we choose products that are truly better for the earth? EcoGirl can help! Read her column this month for quick and easy tips for buying and being authentically green, this holiday season and all year 'round.     You can read this column in the December issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4e.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. November 2010: Sipping Earth-Friendly Holiday Cheer Does it really make a difference if we serve and bring eco-wines to our holiday events? Yes! Here are the reasons that they're indeed better for both your health and the planet. And they're tasty too! EcoGirl also gives you tips for sorting through the eco-labels to find ones you like -- and even lets you in on her local favorites!   You can read this column in the November issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4d.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. October 2010: Voting Green A reader wonders if it's worth the effort to vote, and if EcoGirl has any voting recommendations for the coming election. EcoGirl says that she understands why some people are skeptical about "the system", but that the best remedy isn't to toss away our hard-earned vote (and hand over our power to those who do show up), but to use it instead to help improve the governmental systems that so deeply impacts everyone's lives. After giving her responses to the top four anti-voting arguments, EcoGirl gives links to some groups to ally with in making real change and some eco-voting advice for the upcoming Nov. 2 election.   You can read this column in the October issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4c.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. September 2010: Pet Care Without Toxics Very often folks will grab mainstream pet care products without realizing that these can contain neurotoxic pesticides that can harm both their pets and their families. How do you avoid the products that are the most toxic and swap to less-toxic approaches instead? This column shows you how!   You can read this column in the September issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4b.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. August 2010: Reaping the Rewards of the Bulk Bin Hiding in plain site, the bulk bin aisles at the grocery store offer many benefits to both us and the planet. This includes saving us money, offering us freshness and variety, and greatly reducing the packaging waste that fills our trash cans, landfills, and waterways. EcoGirl offers tips for making it fun and easy to forage in the bulk bins! (Note: The website version of this article offers lots of additional tips and information.)   You can read this column in the August issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4a.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. July 2010: Preventing Future Oil Disasters (The Gulf, part 2 of 2) EcoGirl describes how we can channel our anger and frustration about the Gulf's devastation into constructive action that creates a better future. She describes ways that we can reduce our individual petroleum use, join with others to encourage wiser governmental policies, and encourage the recognition of the vital truth that our health and financial well-being depends on a healthy earth.   You can read this column in the July issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3k.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. June 2010: Reducing Your Transportation Footprint A reader is heart-broken watching the Gulf oil gusher's slow-motion destruction of ecosystems, livelihoods, and communities. So she asks how we can help reduce the country's need to drill in such ecologically-sensitive areas. EcoGirl responds with tangible ways that we can all help avoid such disasters in the future by reducing our oil use for transportation. (EcoGirl will also be offering other action ideas in her July column.)   You can read this column in the June issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3j.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. May 2010: Organizing for Eco-Success A reader wants to know how she can get better at actually following through on her intentions to be more green. EcoGirl empathetically offers three easy steps for turning her eco-ideas into actions and everyday habits. She illustrates with two easy examples: setting up your home recycling setup and fully using your printer paper.   You can read this column in the May issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3i.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome! Reader feedback "Anyone who is interested in preserving our earth, its creatures, their habitats, and well-being for all should be an EcoGirl fan!" Debra Birkinshaw, Boardmember, Peace & Justice Center; Member, Green Sangha Sonoma County "Excellent articles Patricia - and fun to read! Congratulations on the colorful front page placement and thanks for continuing to make a difference for the masses by educating via your passion and talent for writing. EcoGirl will soon be flying into other communities and publications, I can feel it. Good luck with her." Melissa Weaver, Educator, Enhanced Health Systems

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. April 2010: Greening Medicine With illness and health care costs weighing on us all, EcoGirl offers additional specific ways that we can use environmental knowledge to help heal both people and the planet, as both patients and health care providers.   You can read this column in the April issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3h.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. March 2010: Eco-Remedies for Our Health Care Crisis The health care crisis is such a timely topic right now. Yet, amidst all the passionate debates, the environmental dimension is still largely being ignored, even with the clear evidence linking our high illness rates and exposure to environmental pollutants and everyday toxics. However, by turning and seeing how our actions in the world are harming our own health, we can find true solutions that significantly reduce both illness and costs, lightening the load on us all.   You can read Ask EcoGirl at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3g.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the wonderful EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. February 2010: Sharing Your Eco-Love This Valentine's Day, you can express your love for both your sweetie and the planet. Here are some easy ways to eco-upgrade your amorous expressions, thus embodying your values while revealing that oh-so-attractive eco-awareness that so many beloveds admire. This column includes specific tips about buying chocolates, roses, and more, including some lovely local options! You can read Ask EcoGirl at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3f.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the wonderful EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. January 2010: Greening Your New Year's Resolutions The new year offers us a handy time to identify the changes we want to make in our lives. And it's smart to include caring for the earth among our intentions, because the planet's well-being is key to our survival, and because aligning with the earth can help us achieve our personal goals. Here some example ways that you can eco-charge your New Year's resolutions to be healthier, save money, connect with others, and have more fun! You can read Ask EcoGirl at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3e.html. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the wonderful EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome!

Announcing my new "insanely useful" Ask EcoGirl booklets Eco-information is everywhere, but there's way too much to digest. We're all drowning in eco-information -- and our overwhelm can keep us from acting. Where do we start? What are the most useful actions to take? How do we integrate this into our everyday lives? Never fear -- Ask EcoGirl is here! EcoGirl understands -- and comes to the rescue! She does the research for you, pulling together the key information that you need to move into action and get the results you need. This is the fast lane to a healthier life for you and the planet. Booklet titles available * Detoxing Your Life: Assessing & Reducing Your Exposure to Everyday Toxics * Healthier Housecleaning: Easy, Less-toxic, & Cheaper Ways to Create a Sparkling Home To find out how to order your very own copies of these "insanely useful" booklets, and be informed when new ones are released, click here. EcoGirl: Making it easy to be green! Reader feedback "What impresses me is that it is SO comprehensive for such a small booklet. Often I see a flyer on one or two topics, but you have packed so much in this, plus given larger principles about how to think of these things. You give simple suggestions that anyone can follow and move themselves forward in the ecological movement -- and feel good about it.  You make it appealing to do, not a burden." Don Scully, MFT

Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing. December 2009: Trimming Your Holiday Waste A reader wonders how their family can reduce the increased trash they generate during the holidays. Yes, given how much our waste increases this time of year, this is a vital and fruitful time for us all to cut back. Luckily, as usual, EcoGirl comes to the rescue with an organized list of tangible ways that you can trim your trash, this holiday season and beyond, thus reducing your eco-impacts, your garbage costs, and even often having more fun! Topics you'll find covered in this column include: entertaining, food, greeting cards, gift wrapping, gift giving, disposal after the festivities, and resources. You can read Ask EcoGirl at www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3d.html. Plus that webpage has more details about this topic as well as information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the wonderful EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see previous columns. Your input and feedback are warmly invited!

I have lots of great tips for greening your holidays! First, you can peruse my current and past Ask EcoGirl columns, at www.AskEcoGirl.info/AEcolumns.html. I also have lots of great ideas at www.healthyworld.org/ecoholidays.html. I hope that you have fun exploring and find useful ideas. And please share your own tips with me as well. I love hearing other people's success stories. May we all help create happy holidays for all!

My TV appearance went great! On Aug. 19, I was a guest on "The View From The Bay," a daily TV talk show on San Francisco's ABC station KGO. It's hosted by Spencer Christian and Janelle Wang and produced live in San Francisco. Being on the show was lots of fun! I was delighted to share both my approach to eco-action (by inspiring and empowering folks to make a difference) and to offer their viewers some easy eco-tips. Plus folks heard about my Ask EcoGirl column and were invited to my presentations at the Napa Fresh Aire Festival, August 28-30. For more about my appearance, including screen shots and a link to the video, see www.patriciadines.info/m_ViewBay081909.html

This entire website is (c) Patricia Dines, 1998-2012. All rights reserved.
Page last updated 1/1/12
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