Why buy organic cotton clothing?

Organic cotton production is increasing by more than 15% per year for the last few years.  Why?

A few reasons....

1) People are interested in doing what's right for the environment.  One of those things is buying clothing made of environmentally friendly cotton - organic cotton.  Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture.

2) Organic cotton is widely being embraced by holistic practitioners as having a healing or positive energy, which can benefit people - especially those suffering or recovering from illness.  Many with chemical sensitives are finding organic cotton therapeutic.  Just an FYI - cotton is the most heavily pesticide-intensive crop grown in the United States - and we wear it everyday!

3) Buying organic cotton helps support those organic farmers who choose to follow organic practices, such as avoiding the use of toxins, synthetic fertilizer, harsh chemicals, bleaches and dyes.  Instead, organic farmers rely on natural fertilizers, compost and soil amendments.  Those chemicals are taking a toll on the environment.

Think strongly about buying organic cotton in place of regular cotton.  How can you argue against it??

Earth Day - the eco-friendly holiday!

Earth Day is a week away folks.  Do you know why Earth Day is celebrated all over the world?  Some history according to Wikipedia:

"In September 1969, at a conference in Seattle, Washington, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on the environment. Senator Nelson first proposed the nationwide environmental protest to thrust the environment onto the national agenda.” "It was a gamble," he recalls, "but it worked." Five months before the first April 22 Earth Day, on Sunday, November 30, 1969, The New York Times carried a lengthy article by Gladwin Hill reporting on the rising tide of environmental events.

"Rising concern about the environmental crisis is sweeping the nation's campuses with an intensity that may be on its way to eclipsing student discontent over the war in Vietnam...a national day of observance of environmental problems...is being planned for next spring...when a nationwide environmental 'teach-in'...coordinated from the office of Senator Gaylord Nelson is planned...." Senator Nelson also hired Denis Hayes as the coordinator.

There are lots of ways to celebrate Earth Day.  Some very cool earth day activities on the Earth Day Network site.  Of course planting a tree is at the top of the list.  Think about joining others interested in helping our earth.  There are sure to be local events in your area.  Check them out at the Earth Day Network site at http://ww2.earthday.net/node/80

Happy Earth Day to you and your family!

KC, Hilda, Lily, and Bella

Organic Cotton For Your Baby

According to the Sustainable Cotton Project, about 1/3 of a pound of chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers, process chemicals and dyes) are used to make just one cotton t-shirt!

What a shocking statistic!  And yet, we clothe our children with this chemically treated cotton every single day.

We came across this wonderful website, SafBaby.  Recently, they wrote a lengthy eye-opening piece entitled "Decrease World Poverty, buy organic cotton for your baby".  

Please take some time to read their piece.  Not only is this site and article a great source of information but provides an incredible dose of inspiration!

Remember, children are our future!

New Year - Greener You

Recycle!  Instead of ending up in a landfill your plastic, paper, glass and aluminum can come back to life!

 

ReUse!  Plastic containers, paper, gift bags, wrapping paper, furniture, clothing, EVERYTHING!  Think about how often you can re use or donate any item you are about to throw away.

 

ReDuce!  The amount of stuff you buy…  Ask yourself ONE question.  DO I REALLY NEED THIS?

 

Share your knowledge with your family.  Recycling can be a bit overwhelming for some...   One household recycling is better than none.  Your whole neighborhood would be just EXTRAORDINARY!  Here is a great resource for details on how to recycle.  http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/recycle.htm

an Eco-Friendly Green Christmas

We wish you a greener Christmas!

With holidays right around the corner, wouldn’t it be nice to know that you are doing your part to celebrate in a more eco friendly way?  Here are a few tips to get you started.

 

1.)    Send out Egreeting cards to wish people a happy holiday season.  No paper, no stamps, no post office delivery!  And so creative!  Check out:  www.smilebox.com.  You and your family will absolutely love this! 

 

2.)    Buy locally grown vegetables and fruits for your holiday feasts!  This way you know your delicious meal didn’t travel far.

3.)    Save bows, wrapping paper, ribbon and boxes to use next year!

4.)    Give non material gifts like planting a tree in someone’s name, donate to a noble cause or just spend more time together.

5.)    Beautiful, delicious, thoughtfull and eco friendly!  Check out some cool, eco-friendly gift ideas:          www.greenstuffconnection.com

      www.organicbouquets.com

Happy Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving!

As the holidays near, it's time once again to give thanks for all of the wonderful things we've enjoyed in our lives over the past year. As we give thanks, let's also consider how we can celebrate an Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving!

We won't reinvent the wheel here. There are many who have offered tips and recipes and enjoy the holiday with a bit more "green style".


Our friends at Sierra Club give this Turkey Day advice-

"The Sustainable Consumption Committee (SCC)'s True Cost of Food Campaign makes it clear that our choice of food, now more than ever during the holiday season, affects our earth, our health and what we leave as a legacy to our children and our children's children. Let's pause and think about where the food we eat came from and at what cost to the environment."

To read more from the Sierra Club, click here.



GreenerChoices.org (Consumer Reports Green Report) has some great tips on Greening Up your Holiday Season, including serving:

-Organic meats, vegetables, and fruits
-Fair trade certified coffee, tea and wine
-Rainforest Alliance certified chocolate

Click here for more from Greener Choices.


Happy Thanksgiving!!
Hilda, KC, and Lily

What is Green?

Green is a generic term used to describe something that has a moderate effect on the environment. A green product is one that causes less harm to the environment through the manufacturing process. Before manufacturing, effects to the environment derive from: harvesting, extraction and processing. During manufacturing, environmental effects stem from: Energy usage, emissions and waste. Conventional product development tends to focus on price, performance and safety. (Not on environmental impact). Green product development heeds these product considerations while also vigorously pursuing ways to improve a product’s environmental impact across all stages of its life cycle. Trask, Crissy (2006). It's easy being green. Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. (click to view)


With that in mind, it is Green Stuff Connection’s goal to carry all Green products. Product’s that derive from manufacturing causing minimal environmental impact and products that simultaneously make a fabulous eco-friendly purchase! So go ahead, buy green this holliday season at http://www.greenstuffconnection.com/.



What are your green goals and what steps are you taking now to achieve them?



Thank you for your participation and good luck to you all!



Hilda