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Whether you’re re-locating across town or across the country, moving can be a major hassle! It’s a ton of work, from packing to transporting to un-packing and setting up in your new place. Inevitably, you’ll need boxes and containers to pack up all your stuff, and a means of transportation to get everything from point A to point B. But when moving day rolls around, how can you minimize waste or pollution? Check out these eco-friendly tips to make your move easier on you and the planet!

Downsize Your Stuff Well Before You Move

You probably have tons of items around your house collecting dust, crammed into closets and shoved under beds - things you haven’t used in years that you’ll never touch again. Why waste time, energy and materials packing this stuff up and transporting it to your new house? It’s not worth it! The solution? Downsize! The less stuff you have to move, the fewer packing materials you’ll need. You’ll also use less fuel to transport everything. (continue reading…)

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Easter is right around the corner. Have you thought about greening Easter this year?

There are several easy ways to add a little eco to your Easter without much effort.

One of the biggest wastes when it comes to Easter is the baskets that get tossed in the garbage every year. This year keep the baskets out of the trash. If you use cheap throw away plastic baskets or other disposable containers every year think about finding a nice, sturdy basket instead that can be used again and again. I found heavy duty wicker baskets that get used year after year for my children. It’s an Easter tradition. Each child has their own basket that is refilled with goodies every year. (continue reading…)

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When our children are young, we have almost complete control of all other choices. We know what they are eating because we buy the food and cook the meals. We know what chemicals they are exposed to because we clean the house and do the shopping. As our children grow and gain more freedom, we keep a close eye on their choices and expect them to live up to the values we’ve instilled in them. At some point though, those toddlers become young adults and we have to trust that they are making the best choices for themselves and for their environment. This is particularly true the first time we send them off to college. We can play scenarios in our heads and pretend that they are behaving exactly was we would like, but ultimately they are adults now and will make their own choices. This doesn’t,  however, mean that you have no influence at all. The key is to provide subtle hints and hidden advice instead of lecturing.

Most parents worry about the typical issues of drugs, alcohol, and unprotected sex, but “green” moms have other concerns. They want to know that their children are eating healthy, are limiting their exposure to toxins, and are being eco-conscious. So what do you do when your child is surrounded by the processed chemicals that fast food chains and the cafeteria call food? How do you ensure that your children maintain the values of environmental awareness and healthy living that you have bestowed upon them? Simple. Make it easy to be green. College students have hectic schedules just like working adults and parents, so they want convenience. While convenience is typically what leads us to unhealthy choices, convenience can also be the key to living green.

With Easter right around the corner, why not give your college student the gift of convenience and healthy, eco-friendly living by tweeking your typical Easter basket. While the rest of campus is devouring French fries and contributing to the overflowing landfills, you can be the proud parent whose student is the green list. (continue reading…)

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6.  Vintage Jewelry

Reduce the demand for newly-mined precious metals and gemstones by choosing vintage jewelry from antique dealers and pawnshops instead of newly-made baubles from a jeweler. Some vintage jewelry, particularly at lower price points, are made from a mix of metals that may contain lead. Pewter is a tin alloy that is often made with lead. Test jewelry for lead and keep items secured away from small children.

5. Live African Violet

Violets, rather than roses, are the flower traditionally associated with St. Valentine. While the african violet is from a different botanical family than the violet of St. Valentine’s story, it is a hardy and beautiful houseplant. Live plants, in general, are a better choice than cut roses. (continue reading…)

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Starting in the 1990s with computerization, digital storage, and the Internet, the paperless office was touted as real possibility. The idea seemed to be overrated when paper use actually went up, not down, with electronic records. Many business fail to automate today, even though the technology is available, because they believe the technology will be hugely expensive and that employees will resist adoption. Using less paper can save any organization’s big bucks, no matter what its size, but the transition to a paperless office requires an open mind and a fresh look at how automation allows us to do more with less. (continue reading…)

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We’ve all seen the displays in department stores and under Christmas trees – beautifully-wrapped gifts in colorful wrapping paper, with crisply-folded, neatly-taped corners topped off with perfectly-tied bows and ribbons. For those of us who are all thumbs and are gift-wrapping-challenged, some stores even offer free gift-wrapping services. But think of how all this extra paper, tags and bows affect the environment. On the Web site, PlanetGreen.com, Sara Novak reports that an extra 25 percent more trash is created “during the holidays due to excess wrapping paper, packaging and general waste” (1). You can still wrap your gifts beautifully and help save the environment with some planning. (continue reading…)

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The holidays are creeping up quickly! That means family, friends, food and festivities, with the trees trimmed, stockings hung and bright lights strung. But to have a beautifully-decorated home, you don’t need to break the bank or buy ornaments that create waste. With some simple, creative ideas, you can make charming eco-friendly holiday decorations to add sparkle to the season!

Buying decorations from the store definitely has an environmental impact. Think of the fuel you burn driving to the store, the energy and materials required to manufacture and ship the decorations from factories to stores, plus the packaging waste that comes with the decorations, (like boxes, Styrofoam and plastic wrap). Some decorations are made with potentially-toxic plastics, metals or paints. And when these decorations break or wear out, they’re thrown in landfills, where they can last for hundreds of years (4, 5).

So how can you still enjoy beautiful holiday decorations while keeping the planet in mind? (continue reading…)