Green Talk

Photo by permission of Waldo Jaquith

Tomorrow is New Year’s Day. Every year, people make their New Year’s resolutions with their best intentions. We also take this time to reflect on our past year. Did we accomplish what we wanted or was this year disappointing whether personally or financially.

This year I would like to give space for my readers to tell us what they hope for this year, whether it is personal or for their businesses. I know everyone wants to lose weight, be more successful in their business, or find their soul mate. Health and happiness are always popular resolutions, as they should be.

Give me something from the gut other than the ones listed above since we all want to accomplish them. If those are your resolutions, then tell us why. Bear in mind, it does not necessarily need to be a green resolution (but green is good…)

When you list your resolutions and/or this year’s accomplishments or disappointments, tell us something about yourself, your business, or your website. My goal is to create a community that people feel apart of. Don’t use this opportunity to just tell us what you sell and give me a lame resolution. Honor the space that I am giving all of you, since your very words could help empower someone else to give thought to their own resolutions.

Since we are baring our souls, I will go first.

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Photo by permission of Square One^®

Wondering what would be an amazing New Year’s hostess gift? Consider bringing along a bottle of Square One, organic vodka that not only delivers taste but considers its impact on the Earth.

When I first learned about Square One Vodka^®, I questioned whether or not this was just another company jumping on the “let’s be green” band wagon by having perhaps one or two green attributes. As I discovered, Square One is the real deal from its selection of the vodka’s ingredients, the manner how it is processed, to how it is packaged.  But, the story does not stop there.  Sustainability is also a core principal of the Company’s corporate practices.

Square One^® was started in April, 2006 by Allison Evanow, CEO of the company, along with her sister, Debbie, a leader in the banking industry, and Kimberly Charles, owner of Charles Communications Associates, a respected PR firm, with the determination to show the liquor industry that you can combine social responsibility with social fun. Allison’s background, although unusual, has given her a unique perspective on what it takes to make a quality, good tasting organic vodka in an overly saturated market.

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The Strip by permission of The OliverReport.

I recently spoke with Travell Perkins about his new venture, Ecoegg.org, and the origins of his eco-comic strip anti-hero, the ever oblivious reporter, Oliver Blivious, featured on The Oliver Report. Oliver is thrown into the middle of environmental stories ripped from the headlines with his trusty camera man, Mac. Our reporter is a grey horned owl; his look is the exact opposite of his often aloof character. “The Oliver Report” is a furry comic strip; one where all the other characters are animals as well.

The comic strip is in its beginning stages and is evolving. Travell’s aim is to educate the world about our impact on the Earth through humor.

Travell’s journey to eco-comic book strip author is a very circular one. He earned his undergraduate degree from MIT and worked towards his master degree at BU part-time. Being an ex-Boy Scout and nature fan, he always had a desire to do more for the Planet. “I felt like my talents were being wasted on making the wealthy more so. While at the same time the planet I love and live on was dying.”

Out of Travell’s love of the environment, EcoEgg.org. was born. This website is a “consolidated source for environmentally focused news, information, and entertainment.” As the website indicates the editors “select the best from the Web and mix in exclusive original content to educate the public on our current environmental crisis which will define our time. We want to help you join the fight for a sustainable future.”

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It is the day before Christmas and of course you have waited until the last day to wrap gifts. This was me last week when I had to deliver 80 plus gifts to all of my children’s teachers, aides, cafeteria workers, and so on. We get a little nuts with holiday gifts for everyone at the schools. It is our way of thanking everyone from their teachers to the janitors for making our children lives so much more special.

Then of course, there is the mailman, the doctors, the nurses, the crossing guards, the garbage men…. It can be an expensive holiday but just to see the look on everyone’s faces as you give them just a little something makes your heart melt.

This year like all other years I ordered gift boxes from Bauman Family in Pennsylvania who make the most amazing apple butter, pear butter and pumpkin butter in no sugar added or regular. Although they are not organic, they try to use as little pesticides as possible. Perhaps you may have an organic farm similar to Bauman where you can get these butters since they truly are a treat. I purchase an assortment of gifts for everyone from gift boxes with four butters to individual butters. This year the boxes did not come until Wednesday night and I only had two days to wrap everything and have it delivered to three different schools. I am not joking when I tell you that I had 86 gifts and bottles to wrap.In the past, I have gotten plastic bags, used a lot of ribbon, wrapping paper, and stick on name cards. I don’t want to tell you how much tape I used. I definitely should have been bounced out of the eco-club.  So, what was I going to do this year?

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Photo of Havaleena Bouquet by permission of Tayo Designs (see Green Talk Reader discounts below.)

Tried of the same festive decoration? Looking for something with a little pizazz that will brighten up your table or your garden? Tayo Designs’ Havaleena Light Bouquet, single Havaleena, or Havaleena Torch may be the sparkle you are looking for. The collection is created by the brother and sister team of Teo and Monica Bendt.

So, why is this artist light named Havaleena? The name “is an onomatopoeic translation of the Spanish word “Jabalina” or javelin. Like a javelin topped with a cylinder of light, the Havaleena’s sleek lines make it unique,” according to the Company. As unique is its name is as versatile as its use since the light is mobile and can be arranged anywhere to create the ambiance that you seek.

What are the unique attributes of each one of the Havaleena Collection?

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Photo by permission of A Greater Gift of a Sunshine Shawl

Are you stumped what to give your Aunt or boss for the Holidays? Can’t figure out what to get your best friend for his or her birthday? You have run out of the usual ideas of note cards, candles, and plastic gift cards. Wishing to be kinder to the Earth this season with your holiday joy?

Even with the purchase of green gifts, which are better for the Planet, here is a thought about giving a gift of self-sufficiency for artisans and farmers around the world who are struggling to live a life without poverty and helplessness through A Greater Gift, a program by SERRV International.

What exactly is A Greater Gift? It is the marketing arm of SERRV International, a fifty-six year old company dedicated to helping those less fortunate. “Our mission is to promote the social and economic progress of people in developing regions of the world by marketing their products in a just and direct manner.” All products that the organization carries are fairly traded, which means that SERRV participates in a system where numerous artisans and farmers all over the world, including the United States, are paid fair wages for their products based upon a set of internationally accepted fair trade principals designed to improve the livelihood of low income people.

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Photo by permission of HealthyToys.org illustrating the toxic chemicals in the Hannah Montana Pop Star Card Game

Do you know what chemicals are lurking in your child’s toy chest? Or perhaps under your Christmas Tree? With recent recalls of toys containing lead and the government not regulating the type and amounts of chemicals contained in our children’s toys except for lead paint, is it safe to buy toys anymore?

In answer to this question, The Ecology Center, along with the Washington Toxics Coalition and other leading environmental health groups across the country, recently released its test findings of the safety of 1200 toys. The Ecology Center has created the website, HealthyToys.org, which contains the database, resources, and other important information to help us wade through the toy labyrinth. If this isn’t an early Christmas present for parents, then I don’t what is.

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Photo by Woodleywonderworks by permission

Do you remember the following lyrics from the Crosby, Sills and Nash’s song, “Teach Your Children?”

“Teach your children well,
Their father’s hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you’ll know by.”

There is truth in the lyrics of this song. Our children are our future. What better place to teach them about sustainability of the Earth than through our school systems?

For this reason, in October, 2007, Edutopia launched its Go Green Database as a centerpiece of its ambitious plan to assist schools in teaching about environmental awareness. This resource includes an online user-driven database, short video documentations, and the entire October 2007 issue of Edutopia magazine. It also  contained additional information to spur the teaching of our youth of the importance of sustainability and our impact on our environment.

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Photo by permission of The Bird and The Sea

The Bird and the Sea is a new website created by Stefan Hartwig, a partner in Electric Pulp, an interactive design firm, containing an eclectic collection of green news and information by different green websites regarding the environment, sustainability, and leaving a lighter footstep.

What makes this site different than all of the other news portals out there? Think of a big feed reader on one page with thirty green websites lined up in easy to read columns displaying titles of their three latest posts. The backdrop to these posts is a blue idyllic, tranquil background. Easy to read on the eyes and convenient one stop source for green information.

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Photo by permission of Herry Lawford

Are you in the market for a new car? Lease is up or your car is just had it? My lease expires this week. I have stalled and stalled hoping that a hybrid minivan would some how pop onto the scene. I now have a Toyota Sienna all-wheel drive car to carry my brood around.

I have been scouring the road lately as to what is my next step. Am I ready to give up the minivan for a smaller car? Although many of you may think this is a snap decision, this decision is equivalent to making a new career choice. I have been driving a minivan for fifteen years filling up the seats in that time period. Over the years, some of my children have reached the age and weight requirement to move to the all mighty front seat.

Decisions I had to make. Were we ready for the family to have only one big car that could fit all 6 of us? Could I get away with a smaller car since my husband wanted to keep his large car? Would I be able to car pool with a smaller car? Would I fit three growing boys in my back seat that I would not want to trade in a couple of years from now when they approached teenagehood? (The fourth one would have to sit up front.)This was an agonizing decision for me.

 I drove a myriad of cars to see what I like. Bear in mind, I don’t feel I am one of the best drivers. I need all the help I can get. Plus, safety is a huge issue for me. Was I safer in a larger car with my children? So, I drove or looked at the Prius, Odyssey (Honda minivan), Camry (with an eye for the hybrid), and Toyota RAV-4 SUV, and the Honda CRV. I had previously driven the Nissan Altima.

Here is my own take on these cars from the perspective of an overly cautious driver, mom, and smaller sized person. So, it is slightly skewed towards comfort, does it work for my family and my budget, and can I drive it. Kind of basic, don’t you think?

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