How Are You Green?
Hello readers. I give you—ta da: The Green Market!
I decided to mozie on down to this splendid local event, and ask patrons and partisans alike: How are you Green? What steps do you take to be more eco-friendly?
My first stop—“The Green Bag Lady”
From handbags, to book covers, coasters, sunglass cases, and sleeping pillows filled with lavender—this eco-vender has turned a small profit through recycled fabrics and textiles (and rather lavish ones at that!)
Above: Maryland holds one of her custom creations—a modish handbag—only not so mod! Maryland craftily created this item from a vintage 1960s Marimekko garment. How suave!
Then I found these guys. . .
a.ka. The modern mermaids
Did you know that over 80% of Cancer is preventable?
It all started in the kitchen—when Amy Baxter-Seiss started to experience headaches and eye irritations from the chemicals in her household cleaning products. Having lost both parents to cancer, Amy realized that she was meddling with hazard and became determined to find alternative natural cleaners.
Then along came Audra—an environmentalist and holistic spa specialist who shared a similar pursuit: To find healthier, natural alternatives and raise public awareness about toxic products.
These two eco-innovators have paired up and concocted a series of all natural, non-toxic cleaning formulas. From foamy hand soaps and tingly mint glass cleaners— to vitalizing fruit and veggie washes—Amy and Audra have given us the Green-clean solution…. Literally.
Thanks guys, we need more social activism!
And then I poked around the streets some more,
and I ran—Shizaam!—right into this pot of luck. . .
What a glorious sighting I found. What on mother’s green earth is it?! I gawked for a few minutes in meditative wonder and then this guy came around the corner:
Meet Augusto. He’s the creative magic-man behind this piece of artistic inspiration. With a conglomerate of mixed media—including a few acrylic paints, some digital photography, and a lot of magical green love—Augusto breathed life onto canvas.
Augusto’s work imparts a beautiful love poem addressed to Mother Nature, and his words inspire all of us to see the green Earth in a more intimate light. I definitely support the arts– especially green ones!
So then– I probed around some more, by which time I had a peculiar fancy for. . .
I suppose it was a psychological whim, which I credit to over-exposure to a multitude of lush green vegetation displayed enticingly at vender stands.
But I suppressed my notions and pressed on to question a few other unsuspecting patrons. Here’s what they had to say about being Green:
“I purchase all organic grocery items and try to avoid using plastic bags whenever I can.”
-Michelle, Delray Beach FL
-“I try to keep my air conditioner around 83 degrees, I hang up my clothes to air-dry as an alternative to using the dryer, and I use all-natural eco-friendly pesticides on my plants and herbs.”
-Janice, Boynton Beach FL
So we’ve heard what they have to impart, now tell us, we’re interested about what you guys have to say:
How are you green?
What do you do to exercise eco-activism?
Tags: Something green
5. January 2009 at 11:40 pm :
We use all eco-friendly household cleaners, we also use cloth bags or paper bags when we can.
One of my son’s favorite things to do is cut the plastic holders that 6 packs of beverages come in, this is because it has been found that when people litter, wildlife animals have been strangled by these.
We have a neigborhood recycling day also, and each Wed, he takes all of our card board and plastic’s in for recycling. The group that collects the items uses the money for local activities.
-Sherri, Tiffin Ohio
13. January 2009 at 11:34 pm :
I love posts about being GREEN! There is so much we can do to not only help our environment, but reduce our own cost of living. Visit your local produce peddler. You will not only get much bigger and better quality vegetables at a much lower cost, but will be helping that person feed their family. Chances are the peddler is living on low wage or a fixed income and is making his real living from gardening and selling his surplus. More than likely it’s a small family farm using their own compost. Just by helping this guy and helping yourself you are pulling away one family dependent upon major farming companies that destroy the environment and feed things to plants and animals that are not only unhealthy to the animal, but is unhealthy to us and offers us a lower quality food product leading to health issues.
26. February 2009 at 6:08 pm :
I have to admit…we came up with a pretty good idea one time…it helped us, and it helped our friends who had no cash at the time..
We decided we needed to have a yard sale,…so we told all the homeless people that they could use their plastic bottles, cans. etc..as cash..we told the patrons with a sign, that that would and could go for anyone interested in bringing recycleables in to trade instead of cash…
So we offered coffee, goodies, popcorn. music, etc..
and had bags available for the things they brought us, and in turn let them get things they might need,
flashlights, backpacks, blankets, cloths etc..
Then of course, we took all the cans, bottles, etc and turned it in for money, along with what we had saved..
Also…another thing I would like to suggest, is even if you don’t have a garden to grow things in…
We go to some place like the swap meet, or barter,….to get big pots…we then go and buy packages of tomatos,…veggies that we can plant and save a lot on them..at least it helps a bit..
1. March 2009 at 2:02 am :
I love that yard sale program you had going Joanna. For us, we can’t do raised gardens until we have privacy fencing. I need garden beds at least 3 feet high so I can tend them by scooter or wheelchair. Of course we will have to do what we can with what we have and where I live what we can and have are often considered a nuisance. If it’s an “eyesore” you can be ordered to remove it or put up privacy fencing. We are looking into fencing options because our goal is to open our full land area for raised gardens, outdoor cooking space and of course more space for my shelter animals. We have always wanted to be a green family and one way or another we are going to do this. In our case it’s mostly county ordinances getting in our way.
4. March 2009 at 1:11 am :
Another thing that my family does is described below.
My daughter loves to get the water in the shower nice and hot before she jumps in.
So instead of letting the cold water go down the drain, we collect it in a bucket and use that water to water plants through out the house. This water is also great to water your pets.
7. March 2009 at 1:48 am :
Becky,
Our town has so many ordinances is could drive a person crazy. Here you even have a limit in town, to how many tomatoe plants you can plant. And the city, is who plants the trees, not the residents. It’s hard to actuallly think of the your land as “Your Land” because of the city’s rules and the regulations.
7. March 2009 at 2:43 pm :
That’s a shame! Maybe a good opportunity to draw community attention…
8. March 2009 at 2:47 am :
Sherri…I wonder if you could get some of those ‘hanging’ tomato plants lol…
I saw some on television, and they were wonderful!!!
Now I hope that this is ‘legal’ to post this.
but this is the one and it might be a way to outsmart the ground plants!!
If you a tomato lover like me,…(white bread, mayonaisse, salt and pepper ummmm)
Then you will love them for your tomato sandwiches !!!
https://www.hangingtomato.com/?cid=486431
9. March 2009 at 5:02 am :
I just had to share this with you all. Today my mother in law was watching HSN, and seen a nice pots and pans set, and it was Earth Friendly Green!! She was so excited about it, then her hubby said (this is funny) Well they should be gold not green, and she asked why, and then he said “For as much as they cost, they should be covered in gold”.
These pans are really neat, very green friendly. Did you know that there were such things? This was a new one for me. But they do explain to you in the informercial that they are not made from any toxins or anything.
9. March 2009 at 4:22 pm :
How am I green?
I adapted to the dark. I recycle, reduce, reuse as much as possible. I make it a habit to get others on the band wagon. I try to avoid Styrofoam, rubber, and my biggest pet peeve is fossil fuels which is why I am learning to build hydrogen fuel cells. Hopefully, I will complete it unscathed~
11. March 2009 at 6:15 am :
Our local store today had “Green” friendly bag, buy at a dollar and get another one free. They want to switch completely to Earth Friendly shopping bags. It’s a great idea!
11. March 2009 at 6:16 am :
Joanna,
Tom wants us to get a tomato tree this year. He says it will be easier of me to take care of, as the sunlight reaks havoc with my Lupus. I’ve seen them on TV too, and have wondered if they really work. ……….
11. March 2009 at 12:28 pm :
I think if you can get one of those hanging ones, that might do it…he can put it up where it is easy for you??
I think that would also get past the people in your community who say you can’t ‘plant’ them lol.
You go girl you are just another inspriation on this site