Save a Flake

At the risk of sounding old - Winter isn't what it used to be. Not to say that winter weather was 'dependable', but it has become less consistent recently. This winter has been unsettlingly warm from New York city where the Winter Jam Canceled Due to Lack of Winter to Ski Resorts Without Snow.

Experience an Adrenaline-Filled and Thought Provoking Mountain Film on 01/31/12

WHAT: All.I.Can – an environmental ski film by Sherpas Cinema
WHEN: Tuesday, January 31, 7:00pm – One Show Only!
WHERE: Santa Fe Farmer's Market Pavilion, 1607 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM
TICKETS: $10 at the door, $8 with a Winter Fiesta Adventure Pass

Patagonia doesn't want you to buy their jacket. Well ... only if you've already worn out and recycled the one you already have. I'm already there. Call me frugal, or worse, but I try to buy durable stuff and use it until it's ready for the rag pile. Patagonia has gone one step further and will recycle everything they make. But first, I have a pair of ski pants that need repair.

You and your favorite ski area have a problem and that problem is trash. First, trash on ski slopes is shameful. Littering fouls the same mountains that we are privileged to ski and board. Trash is also a problem as ski areas must haul away piles of boxes, bags and wrappers to landfills. Even if your ski area is built over a trash incinerator, the trash you throw away has a carbon footprint coming and going from the snow.

There are a lot of worthless (and nearly so) 'Green' books on the market. Drop by your local bookstore and browse the 'eco' section. It's amazing to see publishers continue to pump out pretty, but vague, books designed to latch on to the Green bandwagon. After trading emails with Auden Schendler, the author of 'Getting Green Done', I decided that I should read at least one more 'eco-book'. Now, I'm quite glad I did.

Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving in the US is infamous for early-morning sales and hordes of shoppers. If your plans for Black Friday include a tactical shopping mission - I have a suggestion. Buy Durable Stuff. Whatever it is you shop for, choose products that are made to last. For a product to be sustainable it must also be durable. Now, how do you find well made, durable stuff?