WFAA hosted Project Green Summit: Putting Green Into Action, Featuring Daryl Hannah, at the McDavid Studio at the Bass Performance Hall Complex in Fort Worth.
The program started with a delicious lunch. NOTE: next time please provide a vegetarian option. The apple crisp desert was super yummy! And, while we ate we watched some documentaries made by Hannah.
Two of the people sitting at our table were Stefani, Industrial Buyer, Gold Metal Recyclers, and Bob Pruitt, Biodiesel Evangelist. Stefani talked to my son about gathering up and hauling “junk” scrap metal to increase his income. He’s pretty pumped about that but I’m a little worried because I just caught him going through the kitchen cabinets. Her company takes all kinds of metals–some are more valuable than others–and they pay you for it! Pruitt talked about how a smear campaign–likely pushed by our favorite industry–crippled the biodiesel industry in Texas. (I know all about those smear campaigns.) He said the biodiesel industry is capable of producing 868 million gallons a day of sustainable biodiesel fuel in Texas. (I took notes so I hope that’s right.)
During a forum, we learned how GM, DART and Half Price Books are taking steps to Green-UP their companies.
Kathy Doyle Thomas, Executive Vice President, Half Priced Books talked their efforts to Green-UP their stores. Half Price Books makes careful choices in building materials and lighting. They also train employees to take energy saving steps.
Gary C. Thomas, President/Executive Director of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) talked about expansions and new bus purchases that cut NOx by 90% making them cleaner than cars. He also mentioned the new bike racks on buses so people can ride their bikes to the bus stops.
Mark Harland , GM Marketing Manager for Chevrolet for the South Central Region, talked about the Volt, which may get 230mpg. He said that 50% of GM plants are landfill free…WOW!
After the forum, WFAA’s Cynthia Izaguirre and Chris Flanagan introduced Daryl Hannah. She 
talked about her project dh love life where she offers news, information, alerts, tips, movies and products all aimed at making it easier to achieve an alternative lifestyle. Hannah has lived off-the-grid for something like 20 years and hasn’t used any petroleum products in her vehicles for about 12 years. Go watch the movies she videos and edits herself.
Hannah is a great story teller and truly beautiful inside and out! She has a laid-back demeanor and is very down-to-earth. The setting was intimate–almost like she was in my living room. I remember years ago watching a documentary about Hannah’s lifestyle and that she has a living sofa made from rocks dug up when she was building her home in Colorado. The rocks are covered with moss that she has managed to keep alive all these years. She said periodically she removed the couch cushions and waters the couch moss.
I met Daryl Hannah after the program ended and took the opportunity to give her my card and tell her that I also make movies and blog. We talked about the natural gas mind virus that has infected the general public and we use the same adjective to describe the Pickens Plan.
I also met and spoke with briefly WFAA’s Cynthia Izaguirre and Chris Flanagan.
I gave Chris my card and told him about crawling around in the bushes to get video. He’s even better looking in person and so is Cynthia!
The first step Hannah recommends to living greener is removing all the poisonous cleaning products from your home. I’ve been making all my own cleaning products for years now. Here’s one of my favorite recipes:
1 t. borax
1 t. soda
1 cup water
Microwave until borax and soda are melted then let cool.
Pour into spray bottle and carefully add 1/2 cup vinegar (it may fizz because of the soda so addit slowly).
Fill with water and add essential oil for scent.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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Great post! I didn't know you are so interested in green living. Are you a vegetarian? Me, too. (vegan, actually) I am going to a lecture 9/20 about our diet and how it affects global warming. So much gas and oil are used to simply transport food. I don't know how many of us think about that.
Yes, I'm vegetarian. I haven't eaten beef since I was a very young child. If I'm out somewhere and can't get anything else, I'll eat some chicken but not willingly. I try to only eat organic food and I buy local when possible.
When I was in my early 20s, I read Diet for a Small Planet and that opened my eyes. That's an old book but it's still true. My son just read it.
I'm trying to think about all my purchases.
"…just caught him going through the kitchen cabinets."
Even though I've only met you and yer kiddo once, I totally can see him doing this!!
I've just started making my own household cleaners; glass cleaner & multi-purpose cleaner. I just mopped my incredibly filthy kitchen floor w/ the latter and it worked wonderfully!
He was looking at my Emeril Wear stainless steel pans to sell for scrap metal. LOL!