My family has decided not to exchange gifts this year because we already have enough stuff! But if you have gifts to buy, make thoughtful, fair-trade, eco selections that will be easy on the Earth.
Here are some of our favorites in alpha order:
All for the One
Educate your child today about a greener tomorrow by purchasing the beautifully illustrated book Easy to Be Green. If you would like it autographed, at check out, indicate in the gift message block that you want it signed by the author AND if you want it personalized with the gift recipient's name and/or the gift giver's name (Santa, Mother Earth, etc.).
Carbon Fund
Give a gift this year that reduces the carbon footprint of someone you care about. Your donation supports projects that help the climate by reducing carbon emissions. Choose from guilt free wrapping paper, coal for being naughty, carbon offsets for yourself, your family or your office, or plant 10 to 100 trees.
eco-artware
Not just art, this site sells all types of cool gifts from recycled, reused and natural materials.
Green America
Check out Green America's list of simple holiday gift ideas.
Herban Lifestyle
You'd be surprised how many evil chemicals are in traditional bath and beauty products. Herban Lifestyle's are chemical-free and good for the Earth.
Ten Thousand Villages
With stores all across the U.S., Ten Thousand Villages provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America.
If you like to shop in person and live near the Baltimore/Annapolis/DC area, here are some more picks:
Community Forklift
If you are looking to give your home a makeover for the holidays, come to Hyattsville, Maryland to check out this not-so ordinary home improvement center which not only sells surplus and salvaged building materials, but also new green materials. They also have cool antiques such as mirrors and lighting fixtures.
Earth Alley
Located in the kitchy Hampden section of Baltimore, this store sells eco-friendly and fair trade gifts.
nest
Located in Clarksville, Maryland, nest sells items that are organic, recycled, environmentally friendly, fair trade, hand made, and supportive of a healthy lifestyle.
Enjoy!
Showing posts with label eco friendly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eco friendly. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
A Report from the Polar Bear Plunge and Eco Friendly Pens
I cannot thank you enough for supporting me in the Fourth Annual Polar Bear Plunge! It means the world to me. Attached are some photos. I'm the gal in the black bathing suit with the toboggan, the black boa and pink gloves.
I'm happy to announce that I raised over $1,305 thanks to the generous donations of 40 family, friends, colleagues and clients.
About 200 people and dogs of all ages plunged. Despite the call for rain or snow, we had great weather. It was sunny and in the mid 30s and the water temperature was about 35 degrees. Last year, the air and water temperature was in the 40s (we also held the plunge in December).
I have to confess that as soon as I got in the water this year, I felt immense pain as my feet went numb and started to tingle in a scary way! It was all I could do to run into the water and quickly turn around and head back to the beach. All I could thing about was getting OUT of the water and putting socks ON my feet which felt like a block of ice! The whole water experience lasted probably 30 seconds or less. This was much different compared to last year when I went back in a SECOND time since I felt I hadn't spent sufficient time in the water.
Nonetheless, this year I had a great time and plan to do it again next year! I'm eternally grateful to the following companies who helped me make this a green event!
Rick Erber from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company provided the coffee and tea and all the fixings, including soy milk for the vegans! They are a local roaster (support your local economy and buy coffee that isn't shipped cross country) that offers fair trade/grown coffee/organic coffee (better for the Earth and the workers in the fields). They also contribute proceeds to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Dale Ball from New Leaf Vegan Society got up at 4 a.m. to make vegan applesauce oat muffins, corn muffins and chocolate chip cookies. The food was a hit (there were no leftovers!) and she proved to us that vegan food can be tasty and not scary! My non vegan boyfriend Jeff, who is a chocoholic, ate about ½ dozen of the chocolate chip cookies!
Peter Grazzini from Perfecting Settings provided me with beautiful, ocean-water colored, shimmery linens for our food buffet as well as recycling bins. Yes, if you place an order with them, they'll rent you recycling bins, too! They also take back the hangers and plastic wrap that linens come with and reuse the hangers and then bale and recycle the plastic wrap as well as the shrink wrap that is wrapped around their rental items.
Keith Losoya from Waste Neutral Group is composting all of our waste. We were able to compost the food waste as well as cups, wooden stirrers, napkins, etc. We had 2 bags of compost, a small bag of waste for the landfill and 1 PLASTIC bottle was placed in the recycling bin (I guess everybody else knew better than to bring plastic to an environmental event!). By composting your waste, you reduce the amount of waste that ends up in our already over extended landfills.
Our after party was at The Rockfish Restaurant, a green restaurant in Annapolis which offsets its energy consumption with wind power. They also recycle, utilize sustainable seafood, and have an organic herb and vegetable garden on their roof!
I hope you'll support these folks who have gone green.
Thanks again for your help and I hope this inspires you to live and work green!
Lori
Hear Lori talk about her plunge experience on NPR affiliate WAMU! Click here and listen to "Environmentalists Participate in Polar Bear Plunge".
Green Tip:
Eco Friendly Pens
When purchasing disposable pens (I prefer non-disposable Cross pens and just purchase refills) for the office or a special event, use a brand that is made of recycled content. The ECOAdTMBio Pen is 95% biodegradable and will produce no toxic residue. The bio-polymers used in molding come from renewable U.S. grown resources such as soy proteins or starch from potatoes, corn, wheat, tapioca or beets (I just got hungry!) versus evil, traditional plastic. It is reinforced with less than 5% synthetic polymers and the plastics are 100% biodegradable.
I'm happy to announce that I raised over $1,305 thanks to the generous donations of 40 family, friends, colleagues and clients.
About 200 people and dogs of all ages plunged. Despite the call for rain or snow, we had great weather. It was sunny and in the mid 30s and the water temperature was about 35 degrees. Last year, the air and water temperature was in the 40s (we also held the plunge in December).
I have to confess that as soon as I got in the water this year, I felt immense pain as my feet went numb and started to tingle in a scary way! It was all I could do to run into the water and quickly turn around and head back to the beach. All I could thing about was getting OUT of the water and putting socks ON my feet which felt like a block of ice! The whole water experience lasted probably 30 seconds or less. This was much different compared to last year when I went back in a SECOND time since I felt I hadn't spent sufficient time in the water.
Nonetheless, this year I had a great time and plan to do it again next year! I'm eternally grateful to the following companies who helped me make this a green event!
Rick Erber from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company provided the coffee and tea and all the fixings, including soy milk for the vegans! They are a local roaster (support your local economy and buy coffee that isn't shipped cross country) that offers fair trade/grown coffee/organic coffee (better for the Earth and the workers in the fields). They also contribute proceeds to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Dale Ball from New Leaf Vegan Society got up at 4 a.m. to make vegan applesauce oat muffins, corn muffins and chocolate chip cookies. The food was a hit (there were no leftovers!) and she proved to us that vegan food can be tasty and not scary! My non vegan boyfriend Jeff, who is a chocoholic, ate about ½ dozen of the chocolate chip cookies!
Peter Grazzini from Perfecting Settings provided me with beautiful, ocean-water colored, shimmery linens for our food buffet as well as recycling bins. Yes, if you place an order with them, they'll rent you recycling bins, too! They also take back the hangers and plastic wrap that linens come with and reuse the hangers and then bale and recycle the plastic wrap as well as the shrink wrap that is wrapped around their rental items.
Keith Losoya from Waste Neutral Group is composting all of our waste. We were able to compost the food waste as well as cups, wooden stirrers, napkins, etc. We had 2 bags of compost, a small bag of waste for the landfill and 1 PLASTIC bottle was placed in the recycling bin (I guess everybody else knew better than to bring plastic to an environmental event!). By composting your waste, you reduce the amount of waste that ends up in our already over extended landfills.
Our after party was at The Rockfish Restaurant, a green restaurant in Annapolis which offsets its energy consumption with wind power. They also recycle, utilize sustainable seafood, and have an organic herb and vegetable garden on their roof!
I hope you'll support these folks who have gone green.
Thanks again for your help and I hope this inspires you to live and work green!
Lori
Hear Lori talk about her plunge experience on NPR affiliate WAMU! Click here and listen to "Environmentalists Participate in Polar Bear Plunge".
Green Tip:
Eco Friendly Pens
When purchasing disposable pens (I prefer non-disposable Cross pens and just purchase refills) for the office or a special event, use a brand that is made of recycled content. The ECOAdTMBio Pen is 95% biodegradable and will produce no toxic residue. The bio-polymers used in molding come from renewable U.S. grown resources such as soy proteins or starch from potatoes, corn, wheat, tapioca or beets (I just got hungry!) versus evil, traditional plastic. It is reinforced with less than 5% synthetic polymers and the plastics are 100% biodegradable.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Rental Recycling Hero and Eco Friendly Office Calendars for 2009
Peter Grazzini of Perfect Settings in Landover, MD really gets it. While the party rental industry is inherently green since equipment is used over and over again, it still has wasteful aspects such as all the plastic - shrink-wrap, bags and sheeting) and cardboard.
Peter now offers a service where he picks up plastic and cardboard from clients which he bales and then sends to a recycling center. He also offers recycling containers that his clients can rent and use for recycling cans and bottles.
To read more about what Peter and others in the event industry do to be green, read the November 2008 edition of Special Events magazine, Event Industry Adopts Greener Practices.
Green Tip:
Eco Friendly Office Calendars for 2009
You can be Earth friendly while planning out 2009! The House of Doolittle has been a manufacturer of desk pads, calendars, and appointments books since 1919. Currently the paper used for their products is recycled with 30% to 100% post-consumer fiber. I get my Weekly Appointment Planner from them as well as my Yearly Planning Calendar.
Peter now offers a service where he picks up plastic and cardboard from clients which he bales and then sends to a recycling center. He also offers recycling containers that his clients can rent and use for recycling cans and bottles.
To read more about what Peter and others in the event industry do to be green, read the November 2008 edition of Special Events magazine, Event Industry Adopts Greener Practices.
Green Tip:
Eco Friendly Office Calendars for 2009
You can be Earth friendly while planning out 2009! The House of Doolittle has been a manufacturer of desk pads, calendars, and appointments books since 1919. Currently the paper used for their products is recycled with 30% to 100% post-consumer fiber. I get my Weekly Appointment Planner from them as well as my Yearly Planning Calendar.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Environmentally Friendly Hotels
I've been doing a lot of traveling and staying at hotels lately. When I wrote my last blog entry, I had just returned from the ISES (International Special Events Society) Northeast Regional Education Conference in Providence, Rhode Island where I was a speaker. My topic was Green Events: A Standard, Not a Trend. I'm just trying to do my part about spreading the gospel of green and received lots of positive feedback. The movement is picking up momentum! Halleluiah! Praise the Lord!
Since then, I've traveled to Silver Thorne, Colorado, Dover, Delaware and New Orleans, Louisiana and I've experienced how different hotels are either diving in or merely dipping their toes into the green movement. Two properties featured compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) in their sleeping rooms, but one – a nice hotel -- had plastic cups instead of glass. Talk about a contradiction!
One of the properties was where I was producing a conference. It had a re-use your bed linen and towel program. Unfortunately, the housekeeping staff didn't seem to be towing the party line. For bed linens, I had to place a sign on my bed if I DIDN'T want my sheets changed. Wouldn't the more eco friendly alternative be to place the sign if I DID want my sheets changed? I surely don't need new sheets each day and since I'm usually in a hurry, remembering to place the sign on my bed to prevent the house keeping staff from removing my sheets can be a lot to ask! At home, I wash my sheets weekly (and on some occasions, less frequently depending on how chaotic my life is!).
The game plan for towels was that IF you wanted to reuse your towel, you should hang it on the rack. Others left in a heap on the floor would be changed. I dutifully hung up my towels, but they still took them away. The next day, I left a note indicating that I wanted to participate in the re-use your towel program. The morning housekeeper honored this request, but the staffer who handled the turn down service later that night didn't get the memo and took my towel away. I mentioned this to the sales director and she promised to speak with the house keeping staff.
From now on, I'm making a pledge to only stay at eco friendly hotels. And if I'm forced to stay at a semi-green or non-green hotel, I'll write a letter encouraging them to hop on the green band wagon.
Green Tip:
Environmentally Friendly Hotels
To locate an environmentally friendly hotel, go to www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com or www.greenhotels.com.
Since then, I've traveled to Silver Thorne, Colorado, Dover, Delaware and New Orleans, Louisiana and I've experienced how different hotels are either diving in or merely dipping their toes into the green movement. Two properties featured compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) in their sleeping rooms, but one – a nice hotel -- had plastic cups instead of glass. Talk about a contradiction!
One of the properties was where I was producing a conference. It had a re-use your bed linen and towel program. Unfortunately, the housekeeping staff didn't seem to be towing the party line. For bed linens, I had to place a sign on my bed if I DIDN'T want my sheets changed. Wouldn't the more eco friendly alternative be to place the sign if I DID want my sheets changed? I surely don't need new sheets each day and since I'm usually in a hurry, remembering to place the sign on my bed to prevent the house keeping staff from removing my sheets can be a lot to ask! At home, I wash my sheets weekly (and on some occasions, less frequently depending on how chaotic my life is!).
The game plan for towels was that IF you wanted to reuse your towel, you should hang it on the rack. Others left in a heap on the floor would be changed. I dutifully hung up my towels, but they still took them away. The next day, I left a note indicating that I wanted to participate in the re-use your towel program. The morning housekeeper honored this request, but the staffer who handled the turn down service later that night didn't get the memo and took my towel away. I mentioned this to the sales director and she promised to speak with the house keeping staff.
From now on, I'm making a pledge to only stay at eco friendly hotels. And if I'm forced to stay at a semi-green or non-green hotel, I'll write a letter encouraging them to hop on the green band wagon.
Green Tip:
Environmentally Friendly Hotels
To locate an environmentally friendly hotel, go to www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com or www.greenhotels.com.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Eco Friendly Name Badge Holders
Green Tip:
Eco Friendly Name Badge Holders
Eco Endure offers 2 eco friendly name badge holders in the very universal 3' x 4' size. One is made of PLA film which is compostable and is made from corn (an annually renewable resource, folks!) as opposed to petrochemicals.
Their other name badge holder is made from biodegradable polymer. What? I had to break that down, too. I hope by now you know what biodegradable means. Polymer is "numerous natural and synthetic compounds of usually high molecular weight consisting of up to millions of repeated linked units." I'm still a little confused, but as long as it is biodegradable, I'm happy.
Eco Friendly Name Badge Holders
Eco Endure offers 2 eco friendly name badge holders in the very universal 3' x 4' size. One is made of PLA film which is compostable and is made from corn (an annually renewable resource, folks!) as opposed to petrochemicals.
Their other name badge holder is made from biodegradable polymer. What? I had to break that down, too. I hope by now you know what biodegradable means. Polymer is "numerous natural and synthetic compounds of usually high molecular weight consisting of up to millions of repeated linked units." I'm still a little confused, but as long as it is biodegradable, I'm happy.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Eating Out and Eco Friendly Restaurants
On Sunday, I went to my hometown of Lancaster, PA to celebrate my dad's birthday. We went to a local restaurant housed in an old farm house that was built around 1790 - talk about reusing a good building! All of Lancaster is pretty darn conservative and it doesn't strike me as the greenest place in the country. In fact, I called it "the land of cows" and as you may or may not know, eating meat is not the greenest practice around, but that is a topic for another blog...
As a vegetarian, it's always a challenge to eat in my home town. Nonetheless, we all enjoyed a lovely meal and at the end, I was shocked and excited when my family members who opted to take home their leftovers were presented with what seemed to be an eco friendly container as opposed to the usual evil Styrofoam or plastic options many of us tend to see. I emailed the restaurant to commend them for their eco friendly choice and to encourage them to continue the practice.
I found out that the product is made of cellulose and biodegrades in 120 days. For more information, go to www.webstaurantstore.com. The produce line is Green Wave.
I hope the restaurant will continue to use this product and encourage other restaurateurs in the area to do the same. I'll be sure to spread the word myself.
So what can you do? If you encounter a Styrofoam or plastic container when you take your "doggie bag" home, email that restaurant and tell them to switch to an eco friendly alternative such as the one above. If we don't voice our dissatisfaction, the status quo with remain.
Green Tip:
To find an eco-friendly restaurant near you, visit the website of the Green Restaurant Association.
The GRA is a national non-profit organization which, among other things, enables you to search for green restaurants in your area. It also lists the number of environmental guidelines the restaurant engages in. Included on the list are restaurants and cafes, resorts and retreat centers, coffee and tea houses, bakeries, pubs, schools and universities and museums.
As a vegetarian, it's always a challenge to eat in my home town. Nonetheless, we all enjoyed a lovely meal and at the end, I was shocked and excited when my family members who opted to take home their leftovers were presented with what seemed to be an eco friendly container as opposed to the usual evil Styrofoam or plastic options many of us tend to see. I emailed the restaurant to commend them for their eco friendly choice and to encourage them to continue the practice.
I found out that the product is made of cellulose and biodegrades in 120 days. For more information, go to www.webstaurantstore.com. The produce line is Green Wave.
I hope the restaurant will continue to use this product and encourage other restaurateurs in the area to do the same. I'll be sure to spread the word myself.
So what can you do? If you encounter a Styrofoam or plastic container when you take your "doggie bag" home, email that restaurant and tell them to switch to an eco friendly alternative such as the one above. If we don't voice our dissatisfaction, the status quo with remain.
Green Tip:
To find an eco-friendly restaurant near you, visit the website of the Green Restaurant Association.
The GRA is a national non-profit organization which, among other things, enables you to search for green restaurants in your area. It also lists the number of environmental guidelines the restaurant engages in. Included on the list are restaurants and cafes, resorts and retreat centers, coffee and tea houses, bakeries, pubs, schools and universities and museums.
Monday, February 4, 2008
The Office and Eco Friendly 3-Ring Binders
I have to laugh when I talk to someone who says they are green because they recycle. While recycling is a very green practice and the heart of the movement, there is more to being green than recycling!
Look at your office products. Are they made of recycled materials? About 6 months ago, I started looking at EVERYTHING in my office to determine if I was using the most eco-friendly option available. I had some work to do.
I purchased a desk calendar made of recycled products and my year at-a-glance calendar is also made of recycled materials. I no longer purchase disposable pens and have opted for Cross pens (choose whatever brand you like) and just pitch the refills. And just today, my 3 ring binders made of corrugated cardboard (not plastic) just arrived. Next, instead of purchasing my ink from a well-known office supply store, I plan to purchase eco-friendly toner and ink cartridges instead.
When I moved my office, I was looking for eco-friendly furniture. Much of it was out of my budget, so I went to the local antique store and struck it rich when I found an elegant vintage desk and matching chair made of oak. And the price was a steal. No new trees cut down for me.
So think twice the next time you place that order at the office supply store. Ask yourself, "Is there a better option?"
Green Tip:
Eco Friendly 3-Ring Binders
Instead of using a 3-ring binder made of plastic materials, use one made of corrugated cardboard and is comprised of 35-38% recycled content. It's durable, recyclable and reusable.
Look at your office products. Are they made of recycled materials? About 6 months ago, I started looking at EVERYTHING in my office to determine if I was using the most eco-friendly option available. I had some work to do.
I purchased a desk calendar made of recycled products and my year at-a-glance calendar is also made of recycled materials. I no longer purchase disposable pens and have opted for Cross pens (choose whatever brand you like) and just pitch the refills. And just today, my 3 ring binders made of corrugated cardboard (not plastic) just arrived. Next, instead of purchasing my ink from a well-known office supply store, I plan to purchase eco-friendly toner and ink cartridges instead.
When I moved my office, I was looking for eco-friendly furniture. Much of it was out of my budget, so I went to the local antique store and struck it rich when I found an elegant vintage desk and matching chair made of oak. And the price was a steal. No new trees cut down for me.
So think twice the next time you place that order at the office supply store. Ask yourself, "Is there a better option?"
Green Tip:
Eco Friendly 3-Ring Binders
Instead of using a 3-ring binder made of plastic materials, use one made of corrugated cardboard and is comprised of 35-38% recycled content. It's durable, recyclable and reusable.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
