How throwing stuff away can make you frugal (and green)
Are you a hoarder? Do you have too much stuff.....or really if you look at all of your "stuff" and think to yourself "When was the last time I used that"? If you can't remember where you got it, when you bought it or how it even got into your home there is a good chance that you don't need it.
And it needs to be on it's way out the door, into the recycle bin or given/donated so that it can find a home where it can be put to use.
Being practical about your clutter is another way to get green.
Keeping your digs clean and organized helps you and the environment.
Cut down on heating and cooling. Keep the dust bunnies at bay is better for your air. Don't block the sunlight with clutter, Let it shine in.
Green On!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Great article for beginners
25 ways to help Your Planet
Real Simple has jotted this lovely article about some easy wasy to help the planet.
Take a look, see anything familiar?
did you know?
Free lint bunnies. The average U.S. household spends up to $135 a year in energy costs drying clothes. A dirty lint filter can use 30 percent more energy to get the job done.
What about?
Curtail junk mail. It takes some legwork, but in the end, you’ll save trees, water, and emissions, too. If everyone in the United States reduced the junk mail he receives every week, 100 million trees would be spared each year. Go to optoutprescreen.com to stop receiving pre-approved credit card offers and sign up on catalogchoice.org to reduce the amount of unsolicited catalogs sent to you.
Give the article a read, I think it's worth it and has some great ideas or reminders about those we are't quite doing enough :)
Happy Planet, Happy You!
Real Simple has jotted this lovely article about some easy wasy to help the planet.
Take a look, see anything familiar?
did you know?
Free lint bunnies. The average U.S. household spends up to $135 a year in energy costs drying clothes. A dirty lint filter can use 30 percent more energy to get the job done.
What about?
Curtail junk mail. It takes some legwork, but in the end, you’ll save trees, water, and emissions, too. If everyone in the United States reduced the junk mail he receives every week, 100 million trees would be spared each year. Go to optoutprescreen.com to stop receiving pre-approved credit card offers and sign up on catalogchoice.org to reduce the amount of unsolicited catalogs sent to you.
Give the article a read, I think it's worth it and has some great ideas or reminders about those we are't quite doing enough :)
Happy Planet, Happy You!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Find Your Footprint - Enter - National Geographic
Find Your Footprint - Enter - National Geographic
Here is a cool contest that is going on right now.
Apparently I am late on the take and all entries have been received BUT
You can still VOTE.
Pick the one you think has the biggest impact or just really speaks to your inner-green!
Here is a cool contest that is going on right now.
Apparently I am late on the take and all entries have been received BUT
You can still VOTE.
Pick the one you think has the biggest impact or just really speaks to your inner-green!
From our friends across the pond
I personally have a love for the UK.
Having been there a few times it has always felt kind of like home to me. Hubby and I have even considered moving there a few times but it just hasn't quite happened (yet?) ;)
In any case, I got this lovely email from a green company that has started doing something that we have done here in the US for years, Car donations.
It's a wonderful compliment to have someone or some company to want to install practices that they find useful and green for our world.
Here is some info that I got from Daniel Frank of Giveacar Ltd.
_________________________________________________________________________
Giveacar (http://www.giveacar.co.uk/), a not-for-profit organisation which organises the collection and recycling of unwanted cars, with the proceeds of each vehicle going to charity.
We have imported the idea of car donation from the US to the UK.
We work with over 250 charities and have raised over £200,000 in the past year through car donation, and work with scrapyards and salvage operators to ensure cars are sold for their maximum value – thus providing the maximum donation to charity.
We are an environmentally friendly operation, recommended by Keep Britain Tidy and recently covered by the Ecologist:
http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/out_and_about/687787/recycle_your_car_dont_scrap_it.html
We want to make sure that as many people as possible are aware of the environmental benefits of car donation, and would really appreciate your help!
A round of applause for Giveacar! :)
Having been there a few times it has always felt kind of like home to me. Hubby and I have even considered moving there a few times but it just hasn't quite happened (yet?) ;)
In any case, I got this lovely email from a green company that has started doing something that we have done here in the US for years, Car donations.
It's a wonderful compliment to have someone or some company to want to install practices that they find useful and green for our world.
Here is some info that I got from Daniel Frank of Giveacar Ltd.
_________________________________________________________________________
Giveacar (http://www.giveacar.co.uk/), a not-for-profit organisation which organises the collection and recycling of unwanted cars, with the proceeds of each vehicle going to charity.
We have imported the idea of car donation from the US to the UK.
We work with over 250 charities and have raised over £200,000 in the past year through car donation, and work with scrapyards and salvage operators to ensure cars are sold for their maximum value – thus providing the maximum donation to charity.
We are an environmentally friendly operation, recommended by Keep Britain Tidy and recently covered by the Ecologist:
http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/out_and_about/687787/recycle_your_car_dont_scrap_it.html
We want to make sure that as many people as possible are aware of the environmental benefits of car donation, and would really appreciate your help!
A round of applause for Giveacar! :)
Inventing a Teenager's Memory Quilt | Seventh Generation
Check out this cool article about recycling/upcycling your kid's old clothes into a memory quilt.
I just may have to do this one of these days with one an old baby blanket as the base and some of their favorite t-shirts and character pj's. What a way to be eco friendly and preserve some wonderful memories.
Inventing a Teenager's Memory Quilt Seventh Generation
I just may have to do this one of these days with one an old baby blanket as the base and some of their favorite t-shirts and character pj's. What a way to be eco friendly and preserve some wonderful memories.
Inventing a Teenager's Memory Quilt Seventh Generation
Thursday, February 3, 2011
NAIS - North American International Auto Show Detroit
http://www.pollyproducts.com/ Green Products for a Green World
Swedish BioGas Plant to be built in Flint MI The truck above is about the Swedish BioGas company that converts waste into energy. Cooooooooool.
VW had the largest display of hybrid and eco-friendly cars
Surprised to see BMW with a 7 Series Hybrid........to the tune of $117,000, Yes, You read that right over 100 Grand for a Hybrid BMW. It was a sweet looking ride with alot of bells and whistles but not being able to take it for a test drive and really try her out...not sure about the price tag.
Mercedes had a cool display showing their Diesel Bluetec. I like this car/suv. It's got a price tag of of about $67,000, not horrible, not superior but you're getting a really nice product. Enough room for the whole family, storage and enough bells to make you whistle a happy tune! :)
Honda was showing an electric concept of the FIT. Cute little bugger isn't it?
I know there were others that I missed and this was actually a 2nd visit to the show after our first visit was cut short. I did want to get to see the Eco-display that was showcased above with the Michigan products and local energy company.
If an auto show is coming to your area check out the program and see what is going to be displayed. It makes for a fun afternoon of touching and seeing products and cars first hand.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Ugh, It's late and I'm finally getting to my Blog
I want to let you guys know that I really really appreciate all of your support and following on the blog here.
Just a note to let you know that I realize that I don't always say a lot - but please know that every time I post an article it is because it contains some information I feel is important to relay.
I will (in the next day or so) be posting some cool pics of some Green products and Cars from the International Auto Show in Detroit. It was fun to see some Michigan companies showing their Green products and getting the word out on how to green up your home and car.
Until then -
Keep it Green (and non-gmo)
xo
Just a note to let you know that I realize that I don't always say a lot - but please know that every time I post an article it is because it contains some information I feel is important to relay.
I will (in the next day or so) be posting some cool pics of some Green products and Cars from the International Auto Show in Detroit. It was fun to see some Michigan companies showing their Green products and getting the word out on how to green up your home and car.
Until then -
Keep it Green (and non-gmo)
xo
GMO WARS - Radio Interview
gmo-wars-united-we-stand-divided-we-fail/
On Thursday, Jan. 27th the USDA announced their decision to deregulate genetically modified Roundup Ready alfalfa. As much as it upset me, it really didn’t come as a huge surprise. I know the reality of how things work in our government. According to Food and Water Watch, biotech has spent more than half a billion dollars ($547 million) lobbying congress since 1999. Their lobby expenditures more than doubled during that time. In 2009 alone, they spent $71 Million. Last year they had more than 100 lobbying firms working for them, as well as their own in house lobbyists. Our industry can not compete with that.
Click The Link ABOVE To Listen To The Interview With Megan and Mark Talk About The Recent Announcement and the Impact on our Industry (60 Minutes)
Thursday proved to be a walk in the park next to what Friday had in store. After reading an article written by Ronnie Cummins from the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) “The Organic Elite Surrender to Monsanto, what now?”, I was left feeling completely defeated. I felt defeated because of the division that I knew this could potentially create amongst the organic and natural community. Reading the comments of people calling for a boycott of Whole Foods Markets, Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farms literally left me feeling helpless and disillusioned. A boycott of organizations that have been so dedicated and instrumental in protecting the interests of our entire community. How was this possible?
“A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand”
I love this industry. I love that what we do increases the overall well being of those we serve. I urge you to listen to this interview. The information shared by Megan and Mark will help to clarify the attacks made against these corporations and share how “UNITED” we can make a difference.
Peace & Blessings,
Joy Schrock
President, Berlin Natural Bakery
On Thursday, Jan. 27th the USDA announced their decision to deregulate genetically modified Roundup Ready alfalfa. As much as it upset me, it really didn’t come as a huge surprise. I know the reality of how things work in our government. According to Food and Water Watch, biotech has spent more than half a billion dollars ($547 million) lobbying congress since 1999. Their lobby expenditures more than doubled during that time. In 2009 alone, they spent $71 Million. Last year they had more than 100 lobbying firms working for them, as well as their own in house lobbyists. Our industry can not compete with that.
Click The Link ABOVE To Listen To The Interview With Megan and Mark Talk About The Recent Announcement and the Impact on our Industry (60 Minutes)
Thursday proved to be a walk in the park next to what Friday had in store. After reading an article written by Ronnie Cummins from the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) “The Organic Elite Surrender to Monsanto, what now?”, I was left feeling completely defeated. I felt defeated because of the division that I knew this could potentially create amongst the organic and natural community. Reading the comments of people calling for a boycott of Whole Foods Markets, Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farms literally left me feeling helpless and disillusioned. A boycott of organizations that have been so dedicated and instrumental in protecting the interests of our entire community. How was this possible?
“A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand”
I love this industry. I love that what we do increases the overall well being of those we serve. I urge you to listen to this interview. The information shared by Megan and Mark will help to clarify the attacks made against these corporations and share how “UNITED” we can make a difference.
Peace & Blessings,
Joy Schrock
President, Berlin Natural Bakery
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Are you a STARBUCKS drinker?
Did you know that you can take your mug with you, get 10 cents off your drink and help save a paper cup from going to the land fill?
Yeppers, another cool way to get your grande latte frappe super skinny choco caramel mocha yummy!
Check out the link to see how Starbucks is ( and had been) helping to make a global difference all over the world. :)
Pledge to make a difference
Yeppers, another cool way to get your grande latte frappe super skinny choco caramel mocha yummy!
Check out the link to see how Starbucks is ( and had been) helping to make a global difference all over the world. :)
Pledge to make a difference
Eco-Cycle: WORKING TO BUILD ZERO WASTE COMMUNITIES
Saying good-vye to single use coffee cups.
Just one of the awesome campaigns and eco friendly ways to help our mother earth.
Eco-Cycle - Say GoodBye to single use Coffee Cups
Eco-Cycle is worth looking at whether you live in the Denver area or not.
The info they share on their site is worthy and helpful to anyone anywhere.
http://ecocycle.org/index.cfm
Did you know:
Just one of the awesome campaigns and eco friendly ways to help our mother earth.
Eco-Cycle - Say GoodBye to single use Coffee Cups
Eco-Cycle is worth looking at whether you live in the Denver area or not.
The info they share on their site is worthy and helpful to anyone anywhere.
http://ecocycle.org/index.cfm
Did you know:
- It only takes about 6 weeks total to manufacture, fill, sell, recycle, and then remanufacture an aluminum beverage can. U.S. EPA, 2010. Common Wastes & Materials: Aluminum
- Making copy paper from 100% recycled content fiber instead of 100% virgin forest fibers reduces total energy consumption by 44%, net greenhouse gas emissions by 38%, particulate emissions by 41%, wastewater by 50%, solid waste by 49% and wood use by 100%. Environmental Paper Network, 2007. State of the Paper Industry
- Recycling, reuse and remanufacturing account for 3.1 million jobs in the U.S.—one out of every three green jobs. American Solar Energy Society, 2008. Defining, Estimating, and Forecasting the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Industries in the U.S and in Colorado.
So how cool is this? Wat to go New Orleans!
Check out this website;
http://www.thegreenproject.org/index.php
These guys have it going on. Don't ya think?
I love Orgs that give back and teach common and easy going green ways.
Check out their events page, learn about the proper way to dispose of paint and waste materials.
AWESOME job guys!!
About The Green Project:
The Green Project is a nonprofit building supply retail store dedicated to creatively promoting and encouraging environmental sustainability in New Orleans. We operate a warehouse, lumberyard, paint recycling center, Recycle for the Arts, electronic waste recycling drop-offs, and environmental education programing. As a hands-on environmental organization, we promote creative reuse in our daily lives and throughout our communities.
http://www.thegreenproject.org/index.php
These guys have it going on. Don't ya think?
I love Orgs that give back and teach common and easy going green ways.
Check out their events page, learn about the proper way to dispose of paint and waste materials.
AWESOME job guys!!
About The Green Project:
The Green Project is a nonprofit building supply retail store dedicated to creatively promoting and encouraging environmental sustainability in New Orleans. We operate a warehouse, lumberyard, paint recycling center, Recycle for the Arts, electronic waste recycling drop-offs, and environmental education programing. As a hands-on environmental organization, we promote creative reuse in our daily lives and throughout our communities.
All the hub-bub about GE Alfalfa, articles and ways to keep fighting
There are many articles going around about the deregulation of GE Alfalfa. While this is sad news and feels like a kick in the pants Please Please don't give up.
We need to keep fighting and the best way is to continue telling people why organic and non-gmo products are better for you and our enviroment, share info on your blogs and social media sites (facebook, twitter, myspace, etc.) and more than ever Go Green with your Green. The more you spend your money on non-gmo and organic products and do not buy Monsanto/GE/GMO/frankenfoods the more they will get the point that we will not stand for this.
breaking-news - Cornucopia.org USDA deregulates GE Alfalfa
The NON-GMO project Team Organic
Center for Food Safety - The GMO Battlefield
We need to keep fighting and the best way is to continue telling people why organic and non-gmo products are better for you and our enviroment, share info on your blogs and social media sites (facebook, twitter, myspace, etc.) and more than ever Go Green with your Green. The more you spend your money on non-gmo and organic products and do not buy Monsanto/GE/GMO/frankenfoods the more they will get the point that we will not stand for this.
breaking-news - Cornucopia.org USDA deregulates GE Alfalfa
The NON-GMO project Team Organic
Center for Food Safety - The GMO Battlefield
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Let the White House know..............send them an email
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Let your opinion be heard........or seen for that matter.
Everyone is up in arms about the Deregulation of Alfafa Sprouts and with good reason.
If you don't know by now this is just another way for the evil Monsanto to be able to not only invade more of our food and life but most likely there will be more lawsuits because Monsanto will be lurking near every farm that won't buy their seed waiting for Mother Nature, wind, bees and nature to pollenate, cross contaminate and plant their chemical Frankenfood where it's not supposed to be and then WHAMO! They sue the farmer for theft.
Watch the documentary Food Inc. and Food Matters
See some of the farmers who have been affected by these monsters.
Read, Research, Find out for yourselves.
Write to you congressmen and women and By ALL MEANS Buy Organic, Buy Non-GMO and Boycott any company that still makes, uses or allows Monsanto seed in their product.
** as a side note** Apparently Land O' Lakes has a warehouse full of GMO Monsanto Alfafa sprout seed they have been waiting to plant.
One more company that won't be allowed in our house.
Let your opinion be heard........or seen for that matter.
Everyone is up in arms about the Deregulation of Alfafa Sprouts and with good reason.
If you don't know by now this is just another way for the evil Monsanto to be able to not only invade more of our food and life but most likely there will be more lawsuits because Monsanto will be lurking near every farm that won't buy their seed waiting for Mother Nature, wind, bees and nature to pollenate, cross contaminate and plant their chemical Frankenfood where it's not supposed to be and then WHAMO! They sue the farmer for theft.
Watch the documentary Food Inc. and Food Matters
See some of the farmers who have been affected by these monsters.
Read, Research, Find out for yourselves.
Write to you congressmen and women and By ALL MEANS Buy Organic, Buy Non-GMO and Boycott any company that still makes, uses or allows Monsanto seed in their product.
** as a side note** Apparently Land O' Lakes has a warehouse full of GMO Monsanto Alfafa sprout seed they have been waiting to plant.
One more company that won't be allowed in our house.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
MonSanto - UGH! READ and research for yourself. Please buy Organic and NON-GMO foods for your own better health.
Do you know about Monsanto?
Have you ever heard of them before today? Do you realize that this chemical company has been making 90% of the food you eat.
Yeppers - that's right 90%
The food that you are eating, while you think you have purchased "fresh" fruits and vegetables are actually grown from a seed that is made in a lab. A seed that is pumped full of growth hormones and antibiotics and that when it's picked "fresh" from the farm it only has about 40% of the nutrients it should.
So by the time it makes its way onto the truck, plane or ship and is dropped in front of you at the store you'll be lucky to have about 20% of it's nutrient value..........and heaven help you if you decide to cook it. What do you have in the end? That's right, empty chemical filled calories that leaves you to take vitamin supplements, maybe a lazy immune system that when you get sick is resistant to meds due to all the antibiotics in your foods.
Have you noticed in the last 20 years how many more cases of food allergies there are? Kids who get sick more than normal, more than you remember when you (or I) were growing up. Our parents talk about how kids weren't allergic to all these nuts, milk, gluten(wheat) when we were or they were young.
Uh yah, that's because the generation that was born during the late 80s and early 90s and everyday since has been fed chemicals.
Do your reading, I repeat - READ!
It is your best shot to find out how to be healthy. Help your family and kids and give them the best leg up. You have so many choices why stop with education, voting/politics or any war ?
Monsanto's chemicals are in all of the plants, the feed that is given to your Cows (beef0 and pigs (pork), the growth hormones in your chickens (that means the eggs too)It is everywhere - There isn't one fast food establishment that is ORGANIC, is there? A salad at McDs is just as bad as the burger.
When you buy non-organic food you are buying what is essentially synthetic lab made food. It all stems from MonSanto.
Did I mention they were a chemical company that started by making chemicals for warfare and transferred that into farming/agriculture pesticides and now.....they make your food.
Something wrong with this picture?
I think so.
Please - I could go on and on with examples, case studies and ratios.
Do yourself a favor and read. Research and see what I am talking about. Find a local farmers market, find your farmers and stores who sell organic and Non-GMO foods. That would mean they don't use MonSanto seed - See what food used to taste like. Do you remember when fruits and vegetables actually had taste??
Something they haven't managed to get into their lab made, chemical based, antibiotic and growth hormone filled seed yet - flavor.
Have you ever heard of them before today? Do you realize that this chemical company has been making 90% of the food you eat.
Yeppers - that's right 90%
The food that you are eating, while you think you have purchased "fresh" fruits and vegetables are actually grown from a seed that is made in a lab. A seed that is pumped full of growth hormones and antibiotics and that when it's picked "fresh" from the farm it only has about 40% of the nutrients it should.
So by the time it makes its way onto the truck, plane or ship and is dropped in front of you at the store you'll be lucky to have about 20% of it's nutrient value..........and heaven help you if you decide to cook it. What do you have in the end? That's right, empty chemical filled calories that leaves you to take vitamin supplements, maybe a lazy immune system that when you get sick is resistant to meds due to all the antibiotics in your foods.
Have you noticed in the last 20 years how many more cases of food allergies there are? Kids who get sick more than normal, more than you remember when you (or I) were growing up. Our parents talk about how kids weren't allergic to all these nuts, milk, gluten(wheat) when we were or they were young.
Uh yah, that's because the generation that was born during the late 80s and early 90s and everyday since has been fed chemicals.
Do your reading, I repeat - READ!
It is your best shot to find out how to be healthy. Help your family and kids and give them the best leg up. You have so many choices why stop with education, voting/politics or any war ?
Monsanto's chemicals are in all of the plants, the feed that is given to your Cows (beef0 and pigs (pork), the growth hormones in your chickens (that means the eggs too)It is everywhere - There isn't one fast food establishment that is ORGANIC, is there? A salad at McDs is just as bad as the burger.
When you buy non-organic food you are buying what is essentially synthetic lab made food. It all stems from MonSanto.
Did I mention they were a chemical company that started by making chemicals for warfare and transferred that into farming/agriculture pesticides and now.....they make your food.
Something wrong with this picture?
I think so.
Please - I could go on and on with examples, case studies and ratios.
Do yourself a favor and read. Research and see what I am talking about. Find a local farmers market, find your farmers and stores who sell organic and Non-GMO foods. That would mean they don't use MonSanto seed - See what food used to taste like. Do you remember when fruits and vegetables actually had taste??
Something they haven't managed to get into their lab made, chemical based, antibiotic and growth hormone filled seed yet - flavor.
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