Amazon Kindle

It’s no secret that upward of $20 million trees are cut down each year to produce the books sold in the USA. This number is staggering for sure. It should, however, come as a relief to you that alternative methods of reading are already on the market.

Companies such as Apple, Sony, and Amazon have released Readers to cut back on book production. Since you simply order books, magazines, and newspapers directly through the Reader it drastically reaches that goal. These technological advances are definitely a greener option for those of you who enjoy a good read. They are user friendly, and affordable compared to buying book , after book ,after book.

Although I am a lover of books, and truly enjoy holding the pages between my fingers, I believe this is a great alternative and can make the switch. How do you feel about making the switch to electronic Readers?

The best way to go about it is to pull together volunteers, and brainstorm. Set up a game plan to do research, come up with ideas, and ways to implement. Here are some topics to get your Green Team going:

- Where can we place paper recycling bings so use is maximized?

- Could we organize an office carpool?

- What are state/township guidelines for recycling (each will differ)?

- Can we switch to non-toxic cleaning products for the office?

Although this is a day to enjoy the finer things in life while rejoicing your love, that doesn’t mean you can’t be a little more friendly to mother Earth during the festivities. With brides and grooms the world over expressing interest in decreasing their carbon footprints, wedding based businesses are stepping up to the plate. Venues are offering “green” wedding packages. Dress designers are creating eco-friendly gowns with organic materials. Stationary shops are using recycled paper with soy based ink for invitations and save-the-dates. These are just a few green wedding ideas, and there are tons more to take into consideration!

Whether you have a small intimate wedding or a 400 person soiree, you now have options if you want to make less of an impact on our planet on your big day. If you are planning a wedding in the future, keep these things in mind…there are tons of resources, and tons of choices!

Lauren Bush and Ellen Gustafson of FEED Projects in Rwanda

As women, we have always looked to positive role models in whatever it we wanted to go after. Having an influencial female leading the way is inspirational and reminds us of the power that our fair gender owns. In trying to lead a greener life, I strive to find women that embrace the care of our Earth and do good with their time here. Luckily for each of us, I find that there is no shortage for incredible women dedicated to forging a way for a better world.

Lauren Bush and Ellen Gustafson are two of these women. These young talents with an eye for fashion, have started FEED Projects. This socially responsible company has the mission of ridding hunger, worldwide, by selling reusable bags. These 100% organic cotton bags are chic and durable. Not only do they help rid the world of single use plastic bags, but the proceeds are donated to provide food to undernourished people of the world. According to FEED Project’s website, 51,135,600 meals have been provided by the sale of 509,469 bags….I must say that this is a noble cause led by noble women. Lauren Bush and Ellen Gustafson have provided me with inspiration, and I hope they do the same for you! Check out FEED Projects website now.

2010 National Green Pages

We can all remember whipping out the yellow pages to look up a company to provide a product or service that we needed. Although the Internet has become the primary source of information, it’s tough to really figure out what companies are legitimate or not. Green America has done the dirty work and came up with the ultimate reference guide…The 2010 National Green Pages. This handy booklet has the same concept that Yellow Pages has. It is a compilation of every service or product that you need, broken down into easy-to-find categories.

The real kicker with this great directory, is that it all of the contacts are of green companies. Each contact includes the company’s location, website, phone numbers and a short description. The National Green Pages is an essential, and easy, way to have eco-friendly products and services at the tip of your fingers. Pick up a copy as soon as you can, and you will definitely get use out of it.

Take a look at 2010 Green America National Green Pages now.

During this holiday season, and all year round, make sure to let your food cool down to room temperature before putting leftovers in the refrigerator. This will actually cut down on the usage of electricity to cool your fridge down. Being green is the best gift you could give mother Earth, so enjoy your wonderful home-cooked food and your holiday season!

This helpful compilation includes a solar powered portable electronic charger, an organic counter garden, coffee from Community Agroecology, green sneakers, and more. Before you venture out to do your holiday shopping, you must take a look at these great green gifts. Have a guilt free holiday to one and all!

Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Liquid Soap

Nothing says happy holidays quite like peppermint body wash! The multi-faceted Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Liquid Soap is a green staple and covers all the bases. This vegetable based cleanser is biodegradable, and can actually be used for about 18 purposes (i.e. shampoo, body wash, laundry, etc.). The oils used to create this powerful, peppermint wash are organic and fair trade, and Dr. Bronner’s does not use Sodium LaurylSulfate. irresistible

This liquid soap makes your skin feel soft, and tingly. It is perfect for the holidays, and smells like a candy cane. If peppermint doesn’t suit your fancy, there are several other scents to choose from including: Almond, Rose, Baby Mild, Lavender and more. The bottles that Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap comes in are made of 100% Post Consumer Recycled plastic, and the labels are paper. This is definitely a body wash that won’t leave an impact, except for on your senses!

Check out Dr. Bronner’s now.

Well, there is good news for everyone…there is an application for the iPhone called the Good Guide. This useful database includes ratings for about 50,000 products and companies that we face in our daily lives. You can break down your search by top rated, product name, and even scan the bar code for a rating result! As you develop favorites off of the database, you can create personalized lists for favorites, or products to avoid. It even allows you to develop a profile to personalize searches to products that best suit your needs.

At your fingertips, you quite literally have access to a countless number of products and how green they are. This incredibly handy application is a must have for green ladies on the go!

Green Mama is a website dedicated to women and mothers who have an interest in decreasing their carbon footprints, and living a healthier lifestyle. The site was founded by Manda Aufochs Gillespie, the Green Mama herself, in an attempt to broaden women’s knowledge of what resources they have available to them. You can easily guide your way around the site, and find relevant information on a plethora of eco topics.

Check out The Green Mama now.