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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Green Shoes

Being Sustainable Down to Our Soles

Following an environmentally friendly lifestyle can be felt right down to our toes. Increase the life of footwear by being properly fitted in high-quality shoes, performing ongoing maintenance and patronizing cobblers. Pay extra attention to waterproofing shoes in winter and rainy seasons. Also, vegan alternatives to leather are available.

Shoe repairs annually keep nearly 1 million pairs of shoes out of landfills and save about 1 billion animals, according to my Shoe Hospital (MyShoeHospital.com), in Austin, Texas, which express-mails shoe repair services. The company reports that total global footwear manufacturing produces nearly 1.5 million tons of waste leather per year. much of it can be avoided.

  • Proper maintenance starts with using a leather cleaner and conditioner, followed by applying polishes and waxes to renew color, cover scuff marks and soften the surface. A natural weatherproofing agent, like lanolin, seed oils or beeswax helps to further seal the surface to prevent water seepage.
  • In addition to resoling shoes to extend their lifespan, some repair shops offer stretching services and fitting aids to improve comfort or preserve desired shape. Shop locators are part of the Shoe Service Institute of America (ssia.info) and Society of master Shoe Repairers (somsr.com) websites.
  • Conventional shoe leather not only involves killing animals, but also treating animal skins with toxic chemicals like mineral salts, lead, cyanide and formaldehyde. materials like linen, cotton, cork, wood, imitation leathers and recycled faux suede are used in Olsenhaus’ vegan shoe line (Olsenhaus.com).
  • Many sustainable shoe brands belong to the Better Shoes Foundation (BetterShoes.org). members include Lyf Shoes (LyfShoes.com) of Raleigh, North Carolina, custom-made of 100 percent recyclable materials; Osborn footwear (ShopOsborn.com), featuring fair trade production and eco-friendly materials; and verdura Shoes (VerduraShoes.com), made from recycled fishing nets and other eco-friendly sources.
 

Image: betterstock/Shutterstock.com

Eco Tip
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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