In the never-ending quest to find the best food possible–healthy for both people and planet–it seems like there’s a pitfall around every corner. Farmers’ market or supermarket? Buy organic, or not? Is buying local always better? What if the farmers bringing food to the market use unsustainable practices, or dump loads of herbicides and pesticides on their crops? What if they have driven a hundred miles to bring those fat bell peppers to the stall?
Of course, you can always do research, or ask the vendors questions. Some markets have standards in place governing vendors’ growing practices or limiting the distance they can drive to bring their wares to the table.
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Written on
April 27, 2009 by
SusanC
So, you participated in Earth Hour and you went to an Earth Day celebration. Perhaps you’ve tried taking the bus or bringing your own bags to the grocery store, or maybe you’ve started recycling. And that is GREAT!
What a wonderful start, or addition to your already eco-friendly lifestyle! Whether you’re an eco-newbie or an eco-veteran, it’s all about taking it one step at a time.
But what step should you take next?
Once people start to “get it” I have exactly one suggestion for their next eco-move: “Put your money where your mouth is.”
Make sure your purchasing power is used, as much as possible, to support a sustainable and healthy lifestyle.
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Written on
April 24, 2009 by
SusanC
A giveaway courtesy of Swami Baby is a great way to end our week-long giveaway carnival, if you will, in celebration of Earth Day.
What exactly is Swami Baby?
Katie Holley, the founder and owner of this creative kiddo-centric business, is probably the best person to answer that question.
In her own words:
Swami Baby is a clothing line for infants and toddlers designed to give voice to our wise little ones.
As a yoga teacher and mother of three, I began to see that kids already possess much of what we as adults are striving to achieve; they have the innate ability to live in the present, to take time to enjoy life, to be aware of their surroundings, and to be direct.
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Written on
April 23, 2009 by
SusanC
One thing we don’t often talk about on this site is the correlation between climate change and endangered species, and specifically, what we can do to help ensure the myriad species who also currently call this planet “home” remain here for generations to come.
What better way to teach future generations that all creatures great and small are worthy of protection and worthy of life than a beautifully illustrated poetry book on endangered animals?
Through Endangered Eyes is exactly that: an informative and beautifully illustrated poetry book on endangered animals for children.
Through Endangered Eyes: A Poetic Journey into the Wild (Hardcover)
By Rachel Dillon (author and illustrator)
There are 1208 species on the Threatened and Endangered Species List compiled by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Written on
April 22, 2009 by
SusanC
Now that Earth Day and the spring season have officially arrived, many Americans are in their eco-conscious cleaning modes, and while spring cleaning is necessary if not a little exciting (downsizing! de-cluttering! finding everything you once thought was lost forever!), the very products used to clean and protect your living space from germs could be harmful to both your family and the environment.
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, more than 50% of human poison exposure victims are children younger than six-years-old, and with sixty-three hazardous chemical products in the average American household-according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission-it’s no wonder so many kids are coming into contact with harmful chemicals on a daily basis at home.
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Written on
April 21, 2009 by
SusanC
Keeping the Earth Week fun moving right along, today as promised we have more great green products for you to win, more Earth Day tips, and bonus links to keep you clicking green all week long.
David Leonhardt, a glassblower and the founder of Glass Dharma, the original hand-made glass drinking straw, created his own line of drinking straws to “contribute one solution to the misuse of plastics in our society.”
By now I think most of us understand the over-use of the very non eco-friendly plastic material is a huge environmental problem, one with no clear solution in sight.
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Written on
April 20, 2009 by
SusanC
Most of you have probably heard by now that Earth Day is just around the proverbial corner, slated for this upcoming Wednesday, April 22nd.
I’m sure you’ve seen television spots, heard radio announcements, and read other green sites preparing to embrace the day, and the entire week, with wide open hearts and minds, in the hopes that together we can make a difference for our one and only planet.
Here at 5MinutesForGoingGreen we’re preparing for our own Earth Day shindig of sorts, gearing up to offer a slew of green products for you to read about and win ALL WEEK LONG, in addition to links galore, and helpful tips for how you can maximize your contribution to making our planet a greener place to be, five minutes at a time.
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Written on
April 17, 2009 by
SusanC
With spring finally in full force in most areas around the country, many people are tackling, or finishing up, their deep cleaning to welcome summer.
Something you may not have considered cleaning, however, is the air in your home. Did you know that most homes have much higher percentages of air pollution than anything you would find outdoors? Scary, but true!
So, what can you do to help clear the air? Well, there are a few simple steps you can take to help your family breathe easier.
-Open the windows and let the fresh air in! In our efforts to seal every nook and cranny in the summer and winter months so as to not let in (or out) any hot air, making our homes more efficient, we often don’t consider that we are trapping in the pollutants along with the temperature.
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Written on
April 13, 2009 by
SusanC
In my opinion, the word “reinvent” should absolutely be added to the “R’s” of recycling- as in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reinvent!
Okay, I know, it is similar to reuse, but really, when I think of the word “reuse” it just implies to me that I should use the same thing repeatedly-such as cloth grocery bags. Recycle is also a similar term, but it always conjures images in my head of blue curb-side bins and pop cans. Reinvent, on the other hand, involves giving new spunk and life to an old, or apparently unusable, item to make it useful once more!
Recently I have come across some fun ideas that will hopefully inspire you to look for ways to reinvent items in your own home.
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Written on
April 6, 2009 by
SusanC
Yes, you heard me, in addition to the last few weeks talking about using cloth for your kiddos, now I want to talk about cloth for you!
Alright, before you freak out and think, “Now this woman has totally lost it!” Hear me out!
Shouldn’t the same reasons we use for cloth diapering our little ones (reducing trash, avoiding toxins, saving money, pure comfort) be the reasons we consider using cloth for ourselves during that certain time of month?
Once again, I understand the aversion and used to have the same one! I used to think, “Wow, that is just way overboard and definitely only for hard-core hippie women.” Then I had my son and ended up using disposable pads for eight straight weeks after his birth.
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