5 Easy Green Resolutions for 2017 January 05 2017, 0 Comments

Go GreenWe strive to make positive changes year-round. However, the New Year is a great time for thoughtful reflection and to put our ideas into action. One area that is important to me, both personally and as the principal of a small business, is environmental sustainability. When it comes to going green, even small changes make a big difference for you and your family today as well as contributing to a better world tomorrow. So we are sharing with you 5 of our personal Green Resolutions. We challenge you to go greener this year and hope you can incorporate some of these or are inspired to create your own green resolutions!    

Bring your own shopping bags.

Plastic wasteWith more than 1 million plastic bags ending up in the trash every minute, taking reusable bags to the store is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint — It’s a no brainer, but, for me, the hardest part about using them is simply remembering to take them into the store with me! This year I resolve to use reusable shopping bags whenever I go shopping! Here are a couple of my favorite and stylish reusable bags: https://baggu.com/collections/reusable-bags and http://www.reuseit.com/rsvp-international-collapsible-market-basket.htm 

Buy local, organic, seasonal products

Organic Farmer's Market ProduceBuy from local farmers and shop in local shops or join a CSA. Not only will you be eating healthier and have a smaller carbon footprint, but you will be supporting your community. Of course, starting your own organic garden is another great way to reduce your food costs and improve your nutrition. While fairly easy to do with the abundance of Farmer’s Markets in the summer, it is a little more challenging in the winter! We froze and canned our own produce this summer and stocked up on canned goods at farmer’s markets and we will subsidize with produce that is grown as close as possible. It takes a little effort, but there is a surprising amount of local produce to be found, even in winter. Here is a link to state-specific seasonal produce guide: http://localfoods.about.com/od/searchbystate/

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Become a part-time Vegetarian/Vegan.

Vegetarian DishThere is not only a health argument for going vegetarian, but also a compelling environmental argument against today’s mass-produced meat industry. Though we already strive for a whole food diet, there is always room for improvement. Our goal for this year is to go meatless more often than not and commit to going completely Vegan 2 days a week. To help us meet our goal, we subscribed to the plant-based meal delivery service; Purple Carrot: https://www.purplecarrot.com/                         If you’re a carnivore through and through and can’t imagine giving up the steak, then consider buying local, sustainably and humanely pasture raised meat, dairy and eggs.

Bring your own water bottle.

Reusable water bottleBottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year, not to mention the 47 million barrels of oil it takes to produce the plastic. Trade your bottled water habit for an at-home filtering system or inexpensive carbon filtering pitcher. Also, conserve water whenever possible and stay on top of local water issues. Eliminating single use disposable plastic bottles will protect ecosystems, save resources, reduce waste and deadly pollution, and save money.                           Here are two of my favorite reusable water bottles: S'well http://www.swellbottle.com/ and BKR http://www.mybkr.com/shop/?gclid=CID09vb4n9ECFUlqfgodQ4QIKQ#/shop

Detox your home.                                                                                                                 
eco-friendly productsWith the rapid growth of eco-friendly beauty products, consumers are becoming more and more aware that there are alternatives that are effective, gentler on your skin, and better for the environment. Now it’s time to turn our attention to the rest of our house. According to the EPA, household cleaning products rank among the most toxic everyday substances to which people are exposed. Here’s a link to an article on What’s Lurking In Your Cleaning Products. Not only are many of these substances toxic to us they are also toxic to the earth and remain in our environment for generations. In contrast, green-cleaning products can be made with simple, common and safe ingredients like water, white vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap. Here is a link to DIY cleaners you can make in 5 minutes: http://www.today.com/home/all-natural-diy-cleaners-you-can-make-5-minutes-or-2D8045376

Here’s to a greener 2017!