Greening the Generations: Sexy, sustainable summer flings

Posted: Jun 23, 2008

BILLY: Summer is sexy. The sun dresses. The bathing suits. The heat. So let's talk about the sustainable summer fling. And no, you don't have to be single to enjoy the sensation. I'm married with kids, but I'm looking forward to frisky fun in the sun -- with my wunnerful wife, of course. Can we make the venerable summer romance more sustainable?

GREG: "Summer lovin' had me a blast / Summer lovin' let's go...recycle??? " It's hard to imagine that line making it into Grease, but, then again, if it was made today...who knows?

There are definitely some ways to make that summer fling fit in with the rest of your sustainable values.

Purchasing locally grown, organic and in season flowers is a great way to show your sweetheart that you care about her and the environment. Harland's Creek Farm near Pittsboro seems to do everything right when it comes to flowers, and sells 'em at the Durham Farmer's Market every Saturday.

Want to get a little romantic and set the mood? How about some great wine from the Yadkin Valley, some candles made locally that you can purchase at the Farmer's Market and an outdoor picnic at one of the great parks in your neighborhood?

BILLY: Whoa, before we get to the wine and candles, I wanna take my sweetie to the pool. While I rock the jack-knifes (belly flops?) off the diving board, she can style in a biodegradable bikini.

Yep, they're out there and they're hot (in a Jane of the Jungle kind of way). If I'm lucky, she'll shell out the bucks to get me trunks made of recycled T-shirts. Wait 'til she gets a load of my old Guns 'n Roses tour souvenir reborn as sustainable swimwear!

But we can't leave the pool without the summer slather. Yes, the joy of swapping sunscreen can still be sustainable! This is a big deal, not only because it's a staple of the summer fling, but because some scientists say the earth's thinning ozone makes UV rays even more dangerous. There are lots of good (and often expensive) organic, non-animal-tested sun screens on the market, but my honey prefers Burt's Bees.

GREG: Finally, in the same way you embrace your main squeeze, embrace the soaring temperatures.

BILLY: As in, don't crank the A.C.? Learn to love the swelter? Make like Kathleen Turner and William Hurt in that steam machine masterpiece, "Body Heat"?

GREG: Exactly! Ordering it on NetFlix right now.