Write a Letter

How long has it been since you have written a letter, a snail mail letter and sent it off? Many people write emails and texts today, and why shouldn't they, it is extremely efficient, I mean you are always at a computer or have your cell phone on you, right?

But does everyone you know own a cell phone and computer? Do they appreciate the thought you put into writing them? How good does it feel when you open the mailbox nd instead of junk mail and bills you find a hand written letter addressed to you from a dear friend? Doesn't it just make you smile?

Well here is a fabulous way to write someone special a letter using as little paper as possible, you dont even need an envelope! So take a moment, sit down and write a letter. Write a letter to your mom or you grandma, your brother or sister or that special someone over seas.

Letterfu

Print a Letterfu design onto a sheet of recycled paper
Write your letter

Address your
Fold using the instructions
Stamp it and send it off

Denmark Generates Too Much Power

Denmark has a problem with their wind turbines. Apparently its generating too much power from wind.

Right now, they are generating about 20% of their total electricity from wind power and on windy days that percentage can double which has placed some strain on the electricity grid due to extreme fluctuations. In western Denmark, the price of electricity can sometimes drop to 0 on a windy day which leaves utilities trying to find ways to offload the excess power. What a “good” problem to have!

To come to the rescue, the Danish utility company Dong Energy has an ingenious plan to build a nationwide system to charge electric cars with the surplus wind power. They are partnering with the start-up company, Project Better Place and plan to build the infrastructure to support the countrywide electric car system by 2010. Charging spot and battery-exchange services would be located across the country.

The Danish government plans to raise its share of electricity from renewable powers to 30 percent by 2025. In addition, Denmark is looking to built stronger connections with nearby countries like Norway, Sweden and Germany to sell excess “cheap” electricity on windy days.

“Cars are the perfect match for wind power,” said Shai Agassi, chief executive of Better, which is rolling out a similar network in Israel and has a deal with Renault and Nissan to build fully electric mass-market cars that run on lithium-ion batteries. “They charge sitting in the garage at night when there is little other demand for electricity.”

In addition to revamping old plants, Denmark has built stronger connections to nearby Germany, Sweden and Norway so it can sell excess electricity on windy days. When it is windy in Denmark, countries like Norway buy cheap power to supplement their own hydropower resources. On very windy days about half of wind power is exported to Norway and Sweden, where many homes are heated with electricity.

“We have to keep investing heavily in the grid to make sure we can transport the electricity from wind when and where it is most needed,” said Peter Jorgensen, vice president at Energinet.dk, the nonprofit, state-owned company that runs Denmark’s grid.

Source

12 Most Contaminated Fruits And Vegetables

Based on over 100,000 recent U.S. Government tests, on 46 popular fruits and vegetables, The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non profit consumer watchdog group, came up with the “Dirty Dozen.” This is a grouping of 12 commercially grown fruits and vegetables that have the highest levels of toxic pesticide residue.

By choosing Certified Organic versions of the produce from this list and the processed food made from them (pies, juices, jams, sauces etc…), you will be taking a big step towards better health and limiting your exposure to harmful chemicals by as much as 90%. By limiting the toxic load on your body, you will also be helping yourself to avoid painful, chronic diseases.

The pesticides used in commercial farming are full of toxins that attack your nervous system, reproductive system and immune system, damage your brain and cause cancer. Developing fetuses and young children are especially at risk for being harmed by these chemicals.

THE MOST CONTAMINATED FRUITS & VEGETABLES:

1.PEACHES: Over 94% tested positive for traces of 45 different pesticides.

2.CELERY 94% tested positive for 29 different pesticides.

3.APPLES: 92% tested positive for 36 pesticides.

4..SWEET BELL PEPPERS: 68% tested positive for 39 different pesticides.

5.CHERRIES: 91% tested positive for 25 different pesticides.

6.IMPORTED GRAPES: 86% tested positive for 35 different pesticides.

7.NECTARINES: 97% tested positive for 26 different pesticides.

8.PEARS : 94% tested positive for 35 different pesticides.

9.POTATOES: 79% tested positive for 29 different pesticides.

10.RASPBERRIES: 59% tested positive for 39 different pesticides.

11.SPINACH: 83% tested positive for 36 different pesticides.

12.STRAWBERRIES: 90% tested positive for 36 different pesticides.

THE LEAST CONTAMINATED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES:

1.ASPARAGUS

2.AVOCADOS

3.BANANAS

4.BROCOLLI

5.CAULIFLOWER

6.SWEET CORN

7.KIWI

8.MANGOES

9.ONIONS

10.PAPAYAS

11.PINEAPPLES

12.SWEET PEAS

Source: Click Here

The baseball game and the bottle of water

So, I have become quite obsessed with water bottles lately, I mean I have three children and the two oldest mainly drink water. My oldest is in baseball and he had a baseball game this last Saturday. While in the dugout the volunteer in charge of getting the kids up and ready to bat (they are only 6yrs) asked my son why on Earth did he have a glass bottle in the dugout.

Side Note: It's a Snapple bottle with water in it. My kids have dropped these numerous times and they have not broken any of them


My son's response was "Well because this is the bottle my mom gave me. This is the one she wants me to drink out of." This seemed to confuse the older woman she just couldnt understand why a mother would give their child a glass bottle. In the last inning my son comes running up to me in the stands, "Here mom, hold this for me" he had to run back out to the field so I didnt get a chance to ask him why, I mean no other children were bringing their parents their water bottles.
I find out later that the woman told him he couldnt have the glass bottle because it would break.

Well it didnt break. I walked back down and into the dugout with the bottle held visibly in front of me and set it back on the bench. I had to walk by her twice, she didnt say anything to me or ask me any questions. Well whatever, I find adults have much more to say when they can say it to someone that either cant or wont question them.

I find that I would much prefer picking up broken glass then thinking about the chemicals leaching into my sons body. I also find that if I am confused about something I speak up and ask about it. That is the only way to learn, to ask questions.

2 of 1,001 Ways to Save the Earth

Speak Up


If you see something you think might be pollution, such as trash dumped in a park or foamy scum on the surface of a body of water, inform your local government or environmental agency. Someone may have already said something, but you never know, you could be the first one to inform someone. And besides it is better for the problem to have been reported more than once that not at all.

Source: 1,001 Ways to Save the Earth by Joanna Yarrow

12 Vegetables you can grow in a pot

With prices going up, you may be considering starting your own garden to sustain yourself and family. My husband and I are making plans to even build a farm that will sustain our family of five. But more of that later. Here are 12 vegetables that you can grow even if you dont have grass to grow them in!

Source: Click here

1. Beets - Fresh beets have a whole different taste than pickled ones. These can be grown in as little space as a cake pan and are better picked small and tender, about the size of a silver dollar.



2. Spinach – Fresh spinach is good both cooked and raw and it is another vegetable that can be grown in a small container. The leaves are best picked young and tender. One of the best things about spinach is that it doesn’t have to grow fruit so it doesn’t need a large container to support it. This is a cool weather plant and does not like hot summer days.



3. Leaf Lettuce - Like spinach, leaf lettuce can be grown in a small container and doesn’t need hot summer days to mature. Pick when leaves are young and tender. Start pots at different times so you have a continuous supply. There is also a variety of miniature head lettuce that can be container grown.



4. Patio Tomatoes – They are coming up with more and more types of tomatoes that are suited to container growing. Traditional tomatoes take a huge amount of dirt and grow to be 3 or 4 feet tall and wide if not supported. Patio tomatoes are more compact and were bred to retain a small size and be grown in a pot. Here is a variety of cherry tomatoes that can be grown in a container.



5. Radishes – Like beets, radishes don’t need a huge pot to grow and mature fairly quickly. These are fun to grow and make a great addition to any salad.



6. Green Peppers – These take a fairly good size pot and are definitely warm weather plants but they are not difficult to grow. They can be used in a variety of dishes and freeze well. If you are feeling a bit experimental, there is a new variety of mini peppers that you can buy. They are small and colorful.



7. Green Beans – They have come up with several varieties of dwarf green beans that are recommended and actually as you can plant 16 green bean plants in a square foot I would imagine these would do fairly well in a container.



8. Squash – New varieties of squash are very compatible with being potted. This mild summer Patty Pan squash is only 2 ft high and 2 ft wide. It may be too big for an apartment but then maybe not.



9. Eggplant – Eggplant is a mainstay in Mediterranean cooking. It’s compact size makes it an ideal choice for container growing.



10. Garlic Chives – This is one of my favorites. It’s a beautiful flower and every part of the plant is edible.



11. Swiss Chard – This link is to a rainbow variety that will perk up any spot. Fresh Swiss Chard has a sweet buttery flavor that is delicious. The grocery store variety loses SO much of the flavor that it barely resembles the garden variety. Try it fresh and sauted in a bit of olive oil with a hint of garlic.



12. A pot of Herbs - You can mix and match herbs in a container. Basil, thyme, sage, tarragon, rosemary will all grow fine. Basil is an upright annual plant while sage is kind of sprawly. Thyme is a low grower so the three together make an interesting potted arrangement. All but basil are perennial.

Operation: Climate Vote

Dear Reader,

Donate now and your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

Forget the OK Corral.

In two weeks, an epic showdown will happen in the U.S. Senate.

As I write this, Capitol Hill is teeming with talk about the Climate Security Act—which will come to the Senate floor for a vote in fewer than two weeks.

In preparation for the showdown, we've launched Operation Climate Vote—an emergency mobilization campaign to ensure we secure enough votes to pass the Climate Security Act.

A generous donor has agreed to match donations to Operation Climate Vote, dollar-for-dollar, through June 1.

Please make an emergency gift today to help us win the vote.

The Climate Security Act will help stop the catastrophic effects of global warming and drive the technology revolution that will bolster our nation's economy.

But we're fighting a Can't-Do crowd of deep-pocketed climate skeptics and special interests who are relying on scare tactics and misinformation campaigns to sway the showdown in their favor.

Big Oil and Big Coal are hell-bent on sabotaging the bill. And climate skeptics are introducing "decoy" global warming bills—like the one recently proposed by Senator George Voinovich (R-OH)—that would allow global warming pollution to increase for decades.

After years of talk, this is our best hope of passing global warming legislation this year.

Make an urgent donation to our Operation Climate Vote campaign and your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar through June 1.

With your help we can:

*
Work with Senate leaders to ensure that carbon reduction targets in the Climate Security Act are not weakened, and even strengthened if possible.

*
Secure the necessary swing votes in the Senate to pass the bill and gain the 60 votes that would be necessary to break the industry-driven filibuster expected from climate skeptics in the Senate.

*
Mobilize influential constituencies—from corporations to religious and military leaders—to urge Congress to act.

*
Keep the phone banks going each and every day to maintain constituent pressure on their Senators.

*
Launch a $3 million dollar ad campaign including video ads on The Washington Post website, print ads in the policy newspaper The Hill, and hard-hitting television and radio spots in over 20 key swing vote states.

*
Continue building our online constituency and mobilizing them through action alerts and other channels.

This showdown is the fight for our future. Nothing less than our legacy is at stake. When the smoke clears, Congress will have either started us down the path to solving the global warming crisis, or squandered this opportunity.

Donate now to support Operation: Climate Vote—and your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar through June 1.

Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Steve Cochran
Director, National Climate Campaign

Severn Suzuki 1992, 2002, 2003, 2007, NOW

In 1992 at the ripe age of 12 Severn Suzuki made this amazing eye opening speech at a UN Convention.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In 2002, at the age of 22,she made these comments about the world then and now.
Source: Click Here
" When you are little, it's not hard to believe you can change the world. I remember my enthusiasm when, at the age of 12, I addressed the delegates at the Rio Earth Summit. "I am only a child," I told them. "Yet I know that if all the money spent on war was spent on ending poverty and finding environmental answers, what a wonderful place this would be. In school you teach us not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share, not be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do? You grownups say you love us, but I challenge you, please, to make your actions reflect your words."

I spoke for six minutes and received a standing ovation. Some of the delegates even cried. I thought that maybe I had reached some of them, that my speech might actually spur action. Now, a decade from Rio, after I've sat through many more conferences, I'm not sure what has been accomplished. My confidence in the people in power and in the power of an individual's voice to reach them has been deeply shaken.

Sure, I've seen some improvements since Rio. In my home city of Vancouver, most people put out their recycling boxes. The organic grocery and café on Fourth Avenue is flourishing. Bikes are popular, and there are a few gas-electric hybrid cars gliding around. But as this new century begins, my twentysomething generation is becoming increasingly disconnected from the natural world. We buy our drinking water in bottles. We eat genetically modified organisms. We drive the biggest cars ever. At the same time, we are a generation aware of the world—of poverty and social imbalance, the loss of biodiversity, climate change and the consequences of globalization—but many of us feel we have inherited problems too great to do anything about.

When I was little, the world was simple. But as a young adult, I'm learning that as we have to make choices—education, career, lifestyle—life gets more and more complicated. We are beginning to feel pressure to produce and be successful. We are learning a shortsighted way of looking at the future, focusing on four-year government terms and quarterly business reports. We are taught that economic growth is progress, but we aren't taught how to pursue a happy, healthy or sustainable way of living. And we are learning that what we wanted for our future when we were 12 was idealistic and naive.

Today I'm no longer a child, but I'm worried about what kind of environment my children will grow up in. In Johannesburg the delegates will discuss the adoption and implementation of documents by governments. Yes, important stuff. But they did that at Rio. What this meeting must really be about is responsibility—not only government responsibility but personal responsibility. We are not cleaning up our own mess. We are not facing up to the price of our lifestyles. In Canada we know we are wiping out the salmon of the West Coast, just as we wiped out cod from the East Coast, but we continue overfishing. We keep driving our SUVs in the city, even though we are starting to feel the effects of climate change—a direct result of burning too much fossil fuel.

Real environmental change depends on us. We can't wait for our leaders. We have to focus on what our own responsibilities are and how we can make the change happen.

Before graduating from college last spring I worked with the Yale Student Environmental Coalition to draft a pledge for young people to sign. Called the Recognition of Responsibility, the pledge is a commitment from our generation to be accountable and a challenge to our elders to help us achieve this goal and to lead by example. It includes a list of ways to live more sustainably—simple but fundamental things like reducing household garbage, consuming less, not relying on cars so much, eating locally grown food, carrying a reusable cup and, most important, getting out into nature. (For the full text, go to www.skyfishproject.org.) Three friends and I will take the Recognition of Responsibility to Johannesburg, where we will meet with South African students and then present the pledge to the World Summit as a demonstration of personal commitment.

But in the 10 years since Rio, I have learned that addressing our leaders is not enough. As Gandhi said many years ago, "We must become the change we want to see." I know change is possible, because I am changing, still figuring out what I think. I am still deciding how to live my life. The challenges are great, but if we accept individual responsibility and make sustainable choices, we will rise to the challenges, and we will become part of the positive tide of change."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 2003, at age 23, Severn did an interview about The Skyfish Project, George Bush, and her lecture to the Nike Corporation

Source: Click Here
Why did you found The Skyfish Project?

I was in my senior year in college, and over the four years I was in the States, I'd made a lot of friends. We had conversations about lots of different things, especially over September 11 and the Bush election. You have all these conversations, and then where does the energy from those conversations go? You stop talking about it, and what happens? Nothing, right? So I thought it would be amazing to try to build on those conversations, not just let them drop. The other thing is, we were going to graduate. And after college, you have to earn a living. It's easy to lose those ideals, so the idea was to have a network to keep fostering the mentality that social change has to happen, that we want to be part of social change.

The website is mainly a discussion group, and a couple of projects have already come out of it.

I'd love to hear about them.

Our main project has been a document called the Recognition of Responsibility. We created it while I was still at Yale with a vision of going to the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, the 10-year anniversary of the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, in 2002. I knew I was going. We were upset because George Bush wasn't going to go--he was just starting to show the world that he didn't care to be part of international negotiations. We wanted to show that he didn't represent all Americans, and we came up with this idea of the Recognition of Responsibility.

Basically it's a one-page pledge. It says, "Today I recognize that I am part of one of the most powerful countries in the world. My population is only a fraction of the globe's population, yet we use far more resources. So today, I pledge to take responsibility for me lifestyle." And it has a bunch of ways to do that. (You can read and sign the Recognition of Responsibility at www.skyfishproject.org/ror.html).

Individual responsibility and accountability seem like big issues for you in your activism.

Since I was pretty young, my family taught me to stand up for what I believe. My dad is a second generation Japanese-Canadian, so I think his racial experience has definitely affected him; I grew up with the knowledge that even though Canada is such a wonderful and just a fair country in a lot of ways, any country is capable of prejudice and you always have to be aware of that. I've had pretty strong role models in taking a stand.

When I was young I formed ECO, the Environmental Children's Organization, because of an experience I had in the Amazon where I witnessed this incredible world and saw that it was being burned. I thought, "Someone has to do something about this!" So eventually we went to the World Summit in Rio. We went there to remind the delegates why they were there and ask them to do the right thing.

We got back, and ten years passed, and what do we really see from that summit? Well, I don't know that we've seen too much.

Over the last few years, after Rio, I was invited to many, many different conferences. Over time I've realized: this is not where we're going to see change. We've seen positive activism happening in the last ten years at the grassroots level, in small communities. It's about the individuals that make up the statistics about consumption and pollution, as well as the people who feel the negative impact, who are actually going to be the change.

That's a powerful revelation.

It is powerful, because you realize that each individual really does count. And the more I've thought about it, the more I've realized that each person is a role model to all the people around us. Not only the children, but everybody. That's how cultures evolve and things become cool--the influence of a few individuals that catches on.

Are you choosing now to spend your energy speaking to groups other than politicians?

I speak to very wide range [of people], from adults to elementary school kids. I was speaking to the Nike Corporation a couple months ago and I really didn't know what to do at first--whether to address them as a corporation, or as individuals--but I decided to speak to them as individuals and asked them to think about what was important to them, and shared what was important to me. I think we share a lot of common human values, and they are connected to how we treat our environment and our communities.

Did Nike invite you to speak to them?

Yeah… I think they invite various speakers in. at their headquarters in Portland; they take very good care of their employees. Nike is trying to be seen as cleaning up its act, becoming more socially responsible. They actually have a sustainability department, which is working within Nike to try to change it. It's good--the people I met had worked in NGOs and had decided that the best way they could make change was right in the belly of the beast. I still don't know how I feel about it. They're still Nike, and just by virtue of being so huge, a lot of negative things have come out of that. But they're responding to consumer pressure and changing. At the same time, it's kind of weird because they're only doing it to make sure that their sales aren't hurt.

What do you make of all the speculation over the death of the Kyoto Protocol, and how important are treaties like that for reducing global warming?

I think on the one hand, the actual groundwork for reducing emissions is going to be at such a smaller scale than the treaty. Despite waffling on the Kyoto Protocol, there are many companies and whole cities that have adopted it and are going ahead and reducing emissions. Toronto has apparently reduced emissions by three times of what it would have had to under the Kyoto Protocol. There's a whole roster of corporations in Canada that have met and surpassed the levels in the agreement.

A woman once asked me after a speech, "How can multinationals like Shell and others possibly meet Kyoto?" The fact is that Kyoto is just the tip of what we need to do to deal with global warming. What the Protocol is asking for in terms of emissions is not that big a deal.

But the Kyoto Protocol was the first treaty to recognize that we share an international resource: the atmosphere. We all depend on it. It's very symbolic, which is great, but the actions need to happen at the ground level. For it not to survive is really disappointing."

More 2007: Click here

Where is she today,2008?

"

Severn continues to be active about raising awareness of the environment, but rather than boldly trying to shame people into seeing sense, she has learned that slow, quiet solutions may be more realistic. The University of Alberta reports that Severn, one of the speakers in its “Revolutionary Speaker Series,” is currently pursuing a master’s degree in ethnoecology, a discipline “… which draws on perspectives from the natural world, traditional beliefs, science, social trends and the politics of interests on Canada’s West Coast.” As part of her studies, Severn is analyzing how some communities have successfully survived for thousands of years by using their natural resources sustainably. She looks to ancient traditions as models for those in Western society making shortsighted decisions that will deplete the Earth for future generations.

Still urging the grown-ups to act more responsibly, Severn is part of the group of Generation Y grassroots activists who wait in the wings while the people who created the current environmental mess talk in greenwash terms about how to sustain economic growth. Will her generation be the one that actually walks the walk and talks the talk?"

Sadly the domain Skyfishproject.org has expired and non of the preexisting work from Suzuki is featured. :(

But....................I found the old page!!!! You can access it by Click Here!

Soapstore

Name: Lissa

Shop Name: Soapstore
Shop Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5253761

Location: Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania

Ships To: USA & Canada What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? The best quality natural ingredients available to small business owners in my field. I love working with olive oil, rice bran oil, coconut oil & palm for my soaps. I use combinations of natural mineral oxides, ultramarine pigments, clays, spices & herbs for my colorants. I do incorporate fd&c liquid colorants as well. For my body care line, my formulas were created with specific skin care needs in mind so that when I am creating a formula from scratch, I use the right raw materials at the proper % to give the customer the effect from that product that they need.
Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? I guess I'm so sick of seeing how the earth is being destroyed, by us (humans). We're only visitors here. And look at how we've taken care of what we've been given. I also had alot of guilt using products on my clients (massage clients) that I couldn't pronounce the names of the ingredients on the back label. How could I be in the profession of healing while using products that contaminate the skin and set us up for medical issues down the line. That's when I started making my own products.

What inspires you? Every day when I walk outside, I look around. The earth, flowers, trees, animals, rivers, streams. My family, friends, colleagues & neighbors are of great inspiration to me as well. Having my family's support inspires me to be better today than I was yesterday.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? I registered my shop in August of 2007, but I really had no idea what etsy was all about. So it just there, empty, until Jan 27th of 2008. Once I realized what etsy was all about and how it could help grow my own business, get the word out there more about my products and help a whole lot of naturally inclined people, then I started to stock my shop with products. I only wish I had done it sooner, because I LOVE etsy. It's been very good to me.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? This is a full time job for me. Up until June of 2007 I was still working as a certified neuromuscular massage therapist (in private practice) and running my soapmaking business all alone. Then I had a severe car accident which has rendered me physically disabled to work in the massage field again, so I retired. Now, I have more time to devote to making soap and spending time at my summer farmers market interacting with my loyal customers. It takes no strain or physical effort at all and it's something that I absolutely adore. I would rather do this than anything else.

How did you get into your craft? From my massage career. As I mentioned earlier, I would be working on my clients in my massage practice, using oils & creams that I didn't know what they were made out of. I couldn't pronounce half the ingredients and I thought to myself, "what am I doing?". I just really felt badly using those products on my clients and I knew that I could do better than that. So I did. Granted, those first products weren't the best in the world, but they worked for me at the time and they were FAR better than the store bought junk that was seeping into their skin.


Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? Yes, stick with it. Etsy is not some type of get rich quick avenue and you won't see overnight success. Etsy is what YOU make of it. If you are dedicated to your business or craft, then show it. Promote your etsy shop as if it were a brick & mortar store front location. Be patient....the most successful etsians didn't get there overnight. It takes hard work, time, dedication & determination. But you will succeed if you persevere. Keep your shop well stocked with unique, one of a kind items that only you can produce. Price your products/items competitively but don't give away the farm. Your hard work & creativity are worth something. Charge accordingly. People will spend the money for a fine quality, unique item.

Anything else you would like to add? Join a team if you can. And once you join, be an active participant within that team. Help promote your team and the team in turn will help to promote your individual shop. Treat your etsy customers as you would any other customer in a retail venue. Your customers are what keep you going, appreciate that!

1 of 1001 Ways to save the Earth

1. Offset your flight's CO2

Aviation may soon account for 15 percent of all green house gases. When there's no alternative to flying, why not help mitigate the environmental costs? Specialist companies allow you to calculate online your seat's proportion of the flight's emissions and negate it by buying "offsets"-a contribution they invest in CO2 reduction measures, such as planting trees. On a return flight between New York and London your 1 1/2 tons of CO2 incurs a $15 offset.

Carbonfund.org
Better World Club
CarSharing.net
Global Stewards
Green Hotel Association
Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
League of American Bicyclists
Man in Seat 61
The National Coalition of Walking Advocates
Travelers' Alert

Passage from: 1001 Ways to Save the Earth by Joanna Yarrow

How to Change the World

How To Change The World

The Future of Water Bottles!

I have blogged before about the absurdness of buying bottles of water and that you should buy a reusable water bottle. But what are you to do when the reusable water bottles are all marked with a 7 on the bottom? Not only can you NOT recycle these water bottles but they leach BMA chemical which is toxic for you to consume.

Well a friend of mine came across these at our local Wegmans store and told me about them.
These bottle are are branded SIGG and are Swiss Made. They are Aluminum water bottles and carry a price but in the long run you are not risky your health and you are not throwing tons of dollars to the dump buying a bottle of water every time you go out.


From a website that sells these water bottles

"Product Highlights

• No Weird Taste: Non-toxic baked-on inner-lining does not impart odors or tastes

• Lightweight but Strong: Weighs no more than a plastic water bottle
• Leakproof: Seamless construction made from a single piece of pure aluminum
• Cool Designs: Sigg bottles are as good to look at as they are to drink from. Baked on powder coat finish lasts for years
• Recyclable: Sigg bottles are pure aluminum and recyclable when they finally require replacement

Product Description

SIGG bottles are innovative, functional, go-anywhere and totally suited for leisure and sporting activities. Small wonder, then, that the market leader is also the winner in consumer tests and sets the competitive pace. Just as one would expect of a true original."

There are many different sizes including a size just for kids and a ton of different syles so you can find one that fits your personality. Not to mention you will be able to identify your water bottle on a crowd! And extras such as a cleaning brush, different bottle tops, an insulating pouch, and cleaning tablets.


You can find Sigg Water Bottles on their website. And you can sign up for email updates and receive special discounts and preview new designs before they are on the market! Or check a local store near you. If your local store does not carry them, maybe you should suggest it!

SIGG GREEN TIPS

1. Recycle, while it may seem simple. Reduce the amount of waste you generate by buying recyclable goods, reuse them if you can, and then actually recycling the rest. We toss out twice as many bottles (JUST BOTTLES!) as we recycle. When a product has to be made of new material (instead of recycled materials), it creates more pollutants then just what ends up in the landfill.

2. Drink tap water. Tap water gets a bad reputation, but many bottled water companies start with tap water, so why not you. There are filters that can be put in water systems if you are concerned about metals in your water. Do a little research, the answer might surprise you.

3. Turn it off when not in use. Simply turning off a light when you leave the room or shutting down your computer over night reduces your personal use of electricity (and lowers electric bills!).

4. Turn down the heat or air conditioning at night (especially if no one is there anyway). Avoid extreme freezers or saunas in the workplace (keep the temperature set to 'comfortable'). Just 2 degrees difference can save 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

5. Get a great idea, Change a Light Bulb. One compact fluorescent light (CFL) lasts 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb and uses two-thirds less energy, working to save you $30 over the life of the bulb. Since CFL bulbs give off 70 percent less heat, you won't have to run your air conditioning as often when more bulbs are changed.

6. Promote alternatives to driving. Whether having bike racks and showers available or rewarding car-pools and providing discounted mass transit passes, cars and traffic are two of the most visible forms of pollution.

7. Use rechargeable batteries. The heavy metals in batteries are either leeched into the ground or released into the air when burned. Alkaline batteries can have their mercury and cadmium (metals present within the battery) extracted to be reused.

8. Cut the plastic. No, not the credit card kind of plastic, the bag kind. Plastic bags (like the ones you bring home from the store) are not biodegradable and actually account for a huge percent of total waste in a landfill. Bring your own cloth bag or ask if you can just carry a small item out of the store. Not only do cloth bags help reduce waste, but they can hold more weight and are often easier on your hands to hold.

9. Clean up a local beach. If you are located near the ocean, get out and help clean up. Most of the Earth's oxygen, moisture, and weather patterns begin in the sea.

10. Recycle your toner cartridges. You can even find places willing to pay for your empty cartridges.

11. Don't dump 'household waste' down the storm drain. Bleech, oil, grease, pesticidies, paints, cleaners; storm drains lead directly into bodies of water (rivers, lakes, and the ocean). Something to think about the next time you go for a swim.

12. Donate old furniture, appliances, and clothing. Less waste and you're helping others.

13. Plant a tree or a whole forest. Trees soak up carbon, block or break wind (saves energy when trying to stay warm) and provide shade during the summer.

14. Buy organic. All the pesticides and chemicals used to protect crops and make them grow bright beautiful colors do more than just hurt bugs, they leech into the soil and are soaked up into the food.

15. Buy local. It comes down to the cars and traffic again. Food that is grown locally does not need to travel as far to reach your dinner table, this means less time sitting in a running truck in the middle of traffic.

16. Use less. Looking to reduce the amount of waste you produce? Then don't use so much stuff. 1 reusable water bottle or buying a 24-pack of one-time-use bottles every week; which is going to take up more room in the end?

17. Use cleaning products with less (or no) hazardous chemicals. Many stores are now carrying them as well.

18. Use email or set up a memo board instead of filtering copy prints of an announcement to everyone.

19. Use ceramic mugs for coffee and tea instead of disposable. For morale, make available mugs with your logo on them.

20. Copy and print on both sides of paper. Create 1/2 the waste right off the bat.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, talk to others. Your parents, brothers, sisters, friends; help make a difference in your community. One person can make a difference!

How to make your own liquid or gel soap

Ingredients
2 cups soap flakes or grated bar soap
1/2 Gallon water
2 Tablespoons glycerin

Great for hand soap or bath soap.


Grate 2 cups worth of bar soap, you can use up any small piece you have laying around or any earth friendly bars!

In a large pot combine all ingredients. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the soap flakes have dissolved. This took me about an hour, I kept forgetting about it and then going back and stirring it and checking it.


Transfer the mixture to a clean 1/2 Gallon container and cover tightly. For a thinner soap, increase the water to a gallon. This makes a LOT of soap. I filled my large bathroom pump, a small bathroom pump and half of one of those Soft Soap containers I had saved for this purpose. Lucky me, make sure you have a giant container ready!!


Pictures are Copyright Hyla Waldron, please email this blog owner for permission to use.

A Cozy Life

Name: Kathy

Shop Name: A Cozy Life
Shop Link: http://cozy.etsy.com

What inspires you?
I am a self confessed pack rat. Having my stuff around me is my inspiration. I keep out books, yarns and fabrics where I can look at them whenever I get stuck. I also keep a lot of little notebooks around where I jot down ideas as they come to me. I may have something like a piece of fabric or yarn for a long time before it tells me what it needs to be or I may start creating right away with something new as soon as I get in the door.
How long have you had your shop on Etsy? I joined Etsy in October 2006.

Is this a job for you or a hobby?
This is a hobby for me and I am happy to keep it that way. I just really enjoy the process of making things and would certainly be and was for many years a crafter even if Etsy didn't exist. Now getting pictures taken and products online that is a whole other story. I do pride myself on keeping commitments however and when it comes to customer service I do just that with each and every customer. For more about how I feel about this you can look at this post -http://cozyetsy.blogspot.com/2008/02/who-am-i.html

How did you get into your craft?
I have always been happiest with something in my hands. I just always wanted the love and secure feeling that you got from having handcrafted things in your life. I read, knit, crochet, do embroidery, needlepoint and quilting to feed my soul. I picked up the basics of these things from my mother and friends. Over the years I improved my skills by choosing projects that would help me learn something new. Sounds kind of serious but it brings a lot of joy and satisfaction. I have written on these thoughts a few times including this post - http://cozyetsy.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-oh-why.html


Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners?
I think in art, craft or business if you are doing what is right you will feel it. That positive energy can spread and make things better for you and all those around you whether it is family, friends or customers.

Anything else you would like to add?
Yes, if anyone is still reading this thanks and let FaewoodCreations know by leaving her a comment.

Fairy Tale Fibers

Name: Drew
Shop Name: Fairy Tale Fibers
Shop Link: http://fairytalefibers.etsy.com

Location: Portland, Oregon, United States
Ships To: US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Australia, for now. Not all countries allow the import of wool. I am happy to look into the policies for any country.

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products?
I upcycle wool that would have been discarded as a "waste" byproduct of a textile factory. I make hats or hoods from the selvage. In a woven fabric, selvage (or selvedge) is the uncut edge of the fabric which is on the right- and left-hand edges as it comes out of the loom. Very often fabric near the selvage is not usable as it may have a different weave pattern, or may lack pile or prints that are present on the rest of the fabric requiring that the selvage fabric be cut off. I use the part the fabric producer cuts off and would usually discard.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? The world didn’t need another unfriendly product, designed to be used once and discarded in a landfill.
What inspires you?
My daughter inspired me to find a profession that could be done from home. Making hats is a way to make staying home financially feasible. Fairies, Elves, and Stories of old inspired the pattern.
Etsy inspires me.
Folks making small steps toward sustainability everyday, bring me joy. I’m inspired by folks who speak up for themselves and those who cannot be heard.
How long have you had your shop on Etsy? I have been active with the Etsy shop for a year.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? It’s full time job for me.

How did you get into your craft? My grandmother taught me to crochet. I’ve had a life long love of fiber. I suppose those combined with a passion for good stories got me into my craft.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? There is no need to reinvent the wheel or be alone. There are lots of resources available, use them! Here’s a couple I’ve found helpful:

Street teams are awesome for getting added exposure and networking!
The Etsy Storque is chock full of useful advice and learned wisdom.

Newbie Guide - The premier 2008 edition! By sagittariusgalley is super helpful and easy to search!
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5402368

http://www.majaba.org/heartomatic.php is an un-official site where you can look up the hearts for all your items at once, or how many views you received in one month…super useful!

Magickal Realism Natural Perfumery

Name: Diana Rajchel
Shop Name: Magickal Realism Natural Perfumery
Shop Link: http://magickalrealism.etsy.com

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products?
mostly plant-based materials, and the usual suspects of those - essential oils, all natural butters and oils, etc. Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products?
Truthfully, it never occurred to me to make them any other way. My interest in and concern for the environment began long before my interest in perfume. So when I discovered I had an innate talent for scent-creation, I immediately based my ingredients choices in my own long-held values about doing right for the Earth.



What inspires you?
I think I'm most inspired by comedy. A good laugh gets my creative juices flowing like nothing else, and I often rely on my "inner smart-ass" for guidance in creating new materials.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy?
A year and a half as of April 1.

Is this a job for you or a hobby?
This is a full-time business for me, but it is not the only thing I do to generate income. I'm also a freelance writer (you can see my work at http://www.dianarajchel.com) and I blog. These all flow into each other fairly well, since I'm living out the economic reality of multiple ways of coming up with income.

How did you get into your craft?
I suspect in truth that my craft went and found me, because I certainly wasn't looking to become a perfumer when I became one. I was just trying to use up some essential oils well-meaning people gifted me with, to support my craven book habit. I got my first order on eBay (back when eBay allowed custom work) and it was generous enough that I needed to get more materials, and from there it turned into a side career that is now my main career.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners?
Patience, perseverance and commitment to quality: these are what you need to make your business last.

Anything else you would like to add?
I love what I do, and I love Etsy as a marketplace template. It's given me a lot of fun opportunities and new personalities to encounter, and I'm particularly glad that I got involved with Etsy Green and Clean Guild - I never thought I'd have the benefit of such dizzyingly amazing bath and body professionals to work with and learn from. You can read up on my perfumery blog at http://magickalrealism.com and read my monthly column on natural perfumery here:
http://www.therebelperfumer.com

Moonflower Herbs

Name: Colleen
Shop Name: Moonflower Herbs
Shop Link: www.MoonflowerHerbs.Etsy.com
Location: Farmington, New Hampshire
Ships To: Currently, just the US, although I’m not opposed to shipping internationally.

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products?
I use organically grown herbs and ethically harvested oils, butters and waxes. I buy fair trade and organic when I can. One of my goals is to switch over to all organic ingredients in the near future. I practice composting and xeriscaping.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products?
I have very sensitive skin and have terrible reactions to the synthetic detergents and fragrances used in most commercially produced skin care. Once I had some herbal knowledge under my belt, I decided to make my own naturals, for my family and myself, using organic herbs from my garden. I like the idea that when my products are washed down the drain, they won’t be poisoning the soil and water.

What inspires you?
I’m very inspired by my family and by nature. My parents are organic farmers. When I was growing up, everyone always had some sort of crafting project going on. Like them, I am in awe of the beauty, simplicity and utter perfection of nature.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy?
I joined Etsy in March of 2007, but didn’t get my shop up until the end of October of that year.

Is this a job for you or a hobby?
Moonflower Herbs is a full time business for me. It really is home gown and the focus changes with the seasons. It starts in the spring with planting time. I grow various fruits (berries and tree fruits), vegetables, and herbs. As spring progresses into summer I can be found with my organic plants and produce at my local farmer’s markets. Fall is a very busy time here with harvesting and canning. Winter is when I get to create. This is when I process the dried herbs, and make my soaps and candles.

How did you get into your craft?
My crafting is born from necessity and fascination, and is a natural extension of my love for organic farming. I suffered a work injury and disability when I was 19. This led me to study nutritional healing and herbalism. I started out by making tinctures, teas, vinegars, and massage oils about fifteen years ago. I like learning new skills, and using those skills to make my own unique creations. I make these with the desire to be as self-sufficient as I possibly can, while maintaining respect for the Earth and its inhabitants.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners?
There are many amazing crafters on Etsy, and I feel that I’m a little too new to be offering anyone advice! This is my personal philosophy. Do what makes you happy. If you love what you do, you will find many others that love what you have to offer.

Intergalactic Rose

Name: Kate
Shop Name: Intergalactic Rose
Shop Link: http://intergalacticrose.com http://intergalacticrose.etsy.com
Location: Jersey Shore
Ships To: Worldwide

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? Hemp, organic cotton, PET fabric, recycled fabric and scraps.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? My philosophy on "Saving the Earth" has always been the same, "every little bit helps." So, my work really reflects the steps I take at home to be kinder to our environment.

What inspires you? My family, music, nature...seeds sprouting, birds singing, my daughter laughing. I am inspired by everyday life.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? I joined Etsy in 2005, but with my main focus being my website, I only recently started giving more attention to my Etsy shop.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? Full time job!

How did you get into your craft? I started altering my own clothing as a teenager, and fell in love with sewing. When my daughter was born in 2002, I made the leap from hobbyist to full time crafter.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? You only get out of it, what you put into it. So if you are doing what you love, keep at it, and everything will work out. To quote Robert Hunter, "without love in the dream, it will never come true."

Anything else you would like to add? Every little bit helps..."going green" is a life long commitment. Start with little changes, and before you know it, you'll discover more and more ways to live an eco friendly life. It almost becomes a hobby and can be fun!

10 Things You Never Thought You Could Recycle

10 Things to Recycle That You Never Thought You Could
Kelly Regan
Thursday, February 14, 2008


How full is your trash can? If you're like most people in the U.S., it's much fuller than it could be.

Americans recycled just 33 percent of the 250 million tons of garbage they created in 2006, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In comparison to a country such as Sweden, which recycles more than 85 percent of its waste every year, it's clear we can and should do better by moving beyond recycling mainstays like newspapers, cans and bottles. So before you toss something in the trash, think about how it could find new life as another product -- or with another owner. A few general guidelines:

# You can probably recycle more than you think. Visit Earth 911 for the rules in your area -- what can be left curbside, and what your local agency will accept at designated drop-off sites.

# Even your most worn-out household items can find new homes. Sell used items on eBay or Craigslist, or give them away through your local freecycle.

# Items donated to qualified charitable organizations can be taken as a tax deduction.

Here are some specific ways to recycle 10 surprising items:

1. Vintage doorknobs, radiators, windows and mantels: Donate or sell classic architectural elements to salvage firms or restoration projects. SalvageWeb is an online ad space that links buyers and sellers all over the world; here you can buy an Art Deco church chandelier, or unload a clawfoot tub after renovating your bathroom. Baltimore-based Second Chance Inc. accepts salvage donations and trains low-income people in the art of "deconstructing" buildings.

2. Toothbrushes: Recycline manufacturers its Preserve toothbrush from Stonyfield Farm yogurt containers; return each worn-out brush in a postage-paid envelope and it will be repurposed into plastic lumber. The Radius Original Toothbrush has a handle made of cellulose, an organic fiber. (Radius also recycles the handles of its battery-operated model once the battery runs out.) Or try Eco-Dent's TerrAdenT toothbrush, which has a replaceable head, so the handle can be reused.

3. Foam packaging: Lightweight "peanuts" made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) contain 25 to 100 percent recycled material. The Plastic Loose Fill Council has a "Peanut Hotline" (800-828-2214) you can call to find local recycling centers, including chain-store shippers such as Pak Mail and The UPS Store. To recycle large, molded chunks of EPS used to cushion televisions, air conditioners and such, contact the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers.

4. Sneakers: Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program turns used athletic footwear (no cleats) into a material called Nike Grind, used to surface playgrounds, running tracks and outdoor courts. Or send your still-wearable athletic shoes to Shoe4Africa, which forwards them to athletes in developing countries.

5. Toys: Ask your local shelter for homeless families or battered women if they accept gently used toys. The Salvation Army and Vietnam Veterans of America also take used toys. Adult-appropriate items such as board games can be sent to troops overseas through AnySoldier.com.

6. Wine corks: Yemm & Hart, which produces recycled building materials, turns used corks into floor and wall tiles. In Canada, the Bag-a-Cork program collects wine corks for recycling.

7. Motor oil: Recycled motor oil can find new life as a lubricant or fuel. The American Petroleum Institute estimates the electricity created with just 2 gallons of reused motor oil would power the average home for nearly a day. Preserve used oil in a clean container with a secure, leak proof lid. You can recycle the used oil filter, too. Earth 911 has a list of motor oil recycling centers that's searchable by ZIP code.

8.Formal dresses: Charities like Chicago's Glass Slipper Project and New York City's Operation Fairy Dust accept donated gowns, shoes and purses to provide free prom wear to low-income teens. Books such as "Always a Bridesmaid: 89 Ways to Recycle That Bridesmaid Dress" offer tongue-in-cheek recycling advice to every woman who has a hideous gown buried at the back of her closet.

9.Eyeglasses, frames and cases: The Lions Club and Give the Gift of Sight Foundation collect used eyeglasses for needy people around the world. Donate your glasses at one of 17 Lions Clubs recycling centers, or at chains such as Pearle Vision Center, LensCrafters and Sunglass Hut.

10. Computers, cell phones and other e-waste: The EPA maintains a list of charities that accept used electronic equipment. Staples, Office Depot and Best Buy offer in-store e-waste recycling -- Best Buy also recycles used appliances. Dell, Toshiba and Sony lead the way in recycling computer products. Donate cell phones to organizations like The Wireless Foundation or Collective Good. Ship old videotapes and DVDs to Ecodisk or Greendisk. And mygreenelectronics.org connects you with e-waste recyclers in your area.

LifeWire provides original and syndicated content to web publishers. Kelly Regan is an editor and writer living in upstate New York. She is also the author of "Field Guide to Dreams: How to Identify and Interpret the Symbols in Your Dreams."

Source: CLICK HERE

Help Tarzan! Poor guy...

eladesign

Name: Ela Nave
Shop Name: eladesign
Shop Link: www.eladesign.etsy.com
Location: Israel
Ships To: Everywhere

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? Mostly fabrics that have been cut by other retailers and not used. This fabric pieces are 100% quality, and brand new, but usually would have been thrown since they don't fit the needed design. Working with those fabrics takes longer and demands creativity and improvisation. The result mostly can not be duplicated- each item has it's own charm!

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? Since i care and respect our planet, and try to live that way too.

What inspires you? Everything. Life

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? Since 10.02.08

Is this a job for you or a hobby? Both. Luckily i found things i love to do that can also be my job. I work as a freelance fashion and costume designer outside of Etsy, and as a yoga instructor (which i love so much too!).

How did you get into your craft? Its a journey that started from a young age and hopefully will never stop!


Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? Enjoy the great platform Etsy is giving us, and keep the joy of creating alive

Anything else you would like to add? Creativity goes together with sensitivity, and therefor i think we, handcrafting people should make special effort to direct this creativity of ours towards our only planet too...

Lorigami

Name: Lori

Shop Name: Lorigami

Shop Link: www.lorigami.etsy.com
Location: Atlanta
Ships To: Anywhere except Nigeria

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? Secondhand sweaters, pillowcases, buttons, silverware - anything that whispers at me when I walk by.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? I grew up in a family of resourceful people. They bought quality, then recycled and reused as a matter of course, because it was silly to throw perfectly good things away. It wasn't so much "save the planet" as it was just common sense, and I guess I never got out of that mindset. When I started at Etsy, I was mostly knitting, and I would go to the secondhand stores looking for sweaters to unravel for yarn. I kept seeing all these things that were lovely and in great shape, but just out of style. I thought they looked so sad sitting there and knew I had to take them home and love them.
Unfortunately, I tend to do the same thing with kittens.

What inspires you? I was an only child so I used to make up stories about objects and people I saw on the street. I never really outgrew it, and wind up weaving whole histories for a prom dress or antique button, or a chipped saucer. At least on Etsy, people don't think I'm crazy, haha.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? hmm. I think the current one for about 2 years. I remember registering when they first started, but I didn't use it and I got cleared out of their system and had to re-register.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? This is my job. Scary!

How did you get into your craft? My mother taught me to sew in grade school because I was really scrawny and nothing fit right. I actally had my first business in 9th grade selling dresses to my classmates.


Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? I see a lot of good advice everywhere; in the forums, on blogs, in books. There is so much advice out there already. The only thing I can add is that you have to do what feels right to you. That doesn't mean only doing what's "comfortable" because pushing yourself is essential for growth, but it does mean that you have to sleep at night. If you're doing something only to make money, it will show, and it will wear you down. Crafting should be satisfying and make you feel good at the end of the day, otherwise what was the point?

Anything else you would like to add?
how about a cookie recipe? =D
Gingersnaps!
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter (or earth balance if you're vegan)
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg (or 2t cornstarch and a little water if you're vegan)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
granulated sugar for decorating

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix together the brown sugar, earth balance, molasses, and egg (or egg substitute). In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger, then stir into the molasses mixture.

Scoop out spoonfuls of dough and roll them into balls, dipping them in the sugar before placing them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the center is firm. Remove from sheet while hot and cool on wire racks.

Eat at least a dozen. =D

Green Way Babywear

Name: Thomi McIntyre
Shop Name: Green Way Babywear
Shop Link: http://www.GreenWayBabywear.etsy.com
Website: http://www.green-way-baby-wear.com
Location: I live in central New York and work out of my home.
Ships To: Everywhere!

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? I use 100% bamboo fleece for my tie-on cloth diapers, with organic cotton trims and thread. When I was working on the design I used cotton fleece sweatshirts from local thrift stores to make prototypes. I just couldn't see using new fabric on something that might be a complete bust. Besides, my son now has a really cool collection of colored diapers! For the several versions of wool diaper covers and longies I sell I use either standard wool in lots of colors or some amazing organic wool from Mar Haven Wool Farm in Michigan. The organic wool is still full of natural lanolin because they clean it with only salt and water. I love finding little flecks of straw in it as I knit, and it feels like chenille.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? It wasn't really a decision. That's just what I do and have always done. I am more conscious of ECO friendly products in my life as a consumer and a creator both now, and am happy to see the increasing awareness in the population at large.

What inspires you? My husband and children. Sunshine and plants and weeping willow trees. Animals in my yard. Bob Dylan.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? I joined late in September 2007, and I started selling by the end of October. Things were slow for a time, but picked up around Christmas and have been somewhat even since then. I just introduced the bamboo tie-on diapers when I was Featured Seller April 2-3 and have had a really positive response.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? With my husband building a website we are now working toward making it a part-time job for me. Full-time I chase children.

How did you get into your craft? My grandmother knit all the time and for everyone. I have always made things with whatever was at hand, and been surrounded by people with an integrity toward craftsmanship - namely my father. I also had a fantastic painting professor, Ron Graff, in graduate school who understood that painting and things like knitting were equally important as crafts.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? Take good pictures, answer convos promptly and in a friendly manner, and write clear descriptions.
Anything else you would like to add? Don't be embarrassed to ask the price you deserve for your work.

Home Creations

Name: Jennifer Blaine
Shop Name:Home Creations
Shop Link:www.homecreations.etsy.com
Location: West Richland, WA USA
Ships To:Everywhere

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? Used up clothes (cut out the good bits =)), scrap fabric- some were store samples someone was throwing out, I once found 4 closed boxes in a burning pile while I was scavaging for wood, and on occasion when someone has passed and the family is cleaning out the house they come across fabric which they give to me rather than throwing it out. I am actually running low, so I am hoping to come across another stash soon. Right now I am putting some shirts together from worn out kids T-Shirts someone was getting rid of

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? My parents are just slightly hippie. My dad (and me before becoming a Stay at home mom) is a teacher. Not wasting becomes the mantra as you try to collect other people's "garbage" for cool school projects. I also like creating One of a Kind pieces from what other people thought was useless, it makes me very proud of what I make

What inspires you? My girls. A lot of the time I just look at them and think of what would be cute. Other than that, the fabric itself often tells me what it wants to be. (Not literally.) I will sit and look at a piece of fabric until I can see it as something, and then I create the piece around it using what I have

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? Almost 3 months

Is this a job for you or a hobby? Hobby, although I would like it to be a little more job. Not full time, but enough to pay for a few things I do with my girls.

How did you get into your craft? My mom. Sewing is something we do together for fun, and we still do. She is the one who made me think it was okay to be a little wild and different, and always use what you have around first.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? Get out and interact with people. I am very shy, so it is hard for me, but I have been making an effort the past few weeks, and it is paying off. I am not swimming in sales, but I have met some of the nicest, most supportive people around.

Anything else you would like to add? Being environmentally friendly doesn't need to be hard, and you won't do everything right all the time. Just start by thinking about the three Rs, You know the ones. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Try to buy stuff you can reuse and that has less waste, and if you are throwing it out, try to recycle. Do simple things like turning out the lights when not in the room and hanging your clothes on a line to dry. We don't all have to have a wind turbine in our backyard, but if everyone could just make one less can of garbage next year, imagine how much less garbage that would be in the world. =)

My Thoughts: This shop is one of the most adorable shops that I have come across on Etsy! This seller is sooo talented and her creations are fantastic! Make sure to stop by!