What Happens when you Decide to be Green?

 

What happens when you decide to be Green, Eco-friendly, sustainable, and earth-friendly? You not only feel like part of a solution, you also learn and become aware of so many things that you once took for granted. Once you begin to do the small things that are “Green”, you then find new bigger ways to be Green.  

You begin to notice other ways of not being Green and your mindset changes. You start to create new ways to help the planet.  It turns into a passion.

Educating ourselves creates a snowball effect.

When we educate ourselves a process that snowballs happen within you.  You just naturally learn more and more. You begin to find it fascinating and fun. It’s a trend in the beginning, and then it becomes a habit, then a new way of life.  It becomes second nature. 

For me, personally,  I start feeling freer, cleaner, clearer, and healthier.  It’s a mindset, it’s a way of being.  It just can’t help but become my state of being.

Being Green is actually “Being Green” it is so true!  It isn’t a twist on words.  Again, for me, is my new way of seeing, reacting, and responding in life.  Not only in a materialistic view of ” less waste”, “less footprint” but also in how I view all of life, all of my actions, and how I view all of life’s inhabitants.  Including trees, plants, and yes, even weeds. 

It’s seeing everything as having an important role in the cycle of life here on Earth.  Watching how life has a way of sustainability that works perfectly without humans. How it has for centuries! 

 

What happens when you decide to be Green? 


You start to have a reverence for life as a whole.

You start to have a reverence for life as a whole.  It is a deep, deep sense of gratitude, of beauty, and of my reactions to such.  For instance, I used to use pesticides.  I didn’t know better at that point in my life. I was in my 20’s.  Now it makes me cringe. I don’t want mosquitoes in my yard to bite my children or myself and I also don’t want to kill the insects that keep my trees, garden growing, and eat other annoying insects to be killed. 

Nowadays, I do not use pesticides unless there is no other way. I protect bees, ladybugs, praying mantis, etc.  I even catch and release spiders, the non-poisonous ones.  I have a sense of gratitude for insects that before I just deemed them all pests to be killed. Of no real use in this world. 

You make more conscious decisions.

What happens when you decide to be Green? Now, I choose my battles and my causes. Choose my cars, the paint I use, my food, and the ways of dealing with unwanted items and I decide consciously, as before I just fell prey to marketing and commercialism. I didn’t think twice about what I used or disgarded.

Being Green is a conscious way of living.  It is being awake!  It’s working to live in harmony with all life and be a part of the natural sustainability that happens without humans.

It’s living in gratitude for this amazing planet that we have been a part of and maintaining this Earth as our home as something precious. To me, it is! Trendy, yes and so very necessary for us to begin to see being green as one of the most important ways to Be. Lisa Hawkins It’s Hip to be Green®

Being Green: Photo by Noah Buscher

Our inner world being Green is important

Our inner world being Green is important.   I work as a counselor also, so I work on my inner world as well as my outer world.  I feel this is important because how I project my actions to the world is in direct proportion to my inner world.   What does this have to do with Being Green?  So much!

Being Green truly is a state of being.  I has to do with how you feel about the world we live in.  What is important to you, in the form of lifestyle.  This has everything to do with being green.

I love life, I do, I love the bees, trees, plants, and I love this planet!  I really do love this planet.  It breaks my heart to see it polluted, and destroyed, the bees being killed off at massive proportions, it brings tears to my eyes to see the ocean polluted and sea life harmed, coral reefs dying, the polar caps melting.

That comes from a place of gratitude and grace for what a gift this planet is.  That is something that isn’t from just going through the motions of recycling and taking my own grocery bag to the food store.  That comes from a love of all life.

When people come from a place of non-acceptance of what is truly going on in the world, a place of greed, or of materialism, and no gratitude it shows up in their purchases, actions, discussions, their mood,  their state of being.  That is how they project on to the world.

So, when I say your inner world being green is important that is why.  It is how you actually are ” being” in the world.

I love being green and I love learning and finding new ways to be green, it is indeed fun for me.  I love how I become more connected to the earth and it’s creatures. I can handle wasps without being stung.  They sense that I have no fear, I’ve picked up a snake, a scared mouse.  My being green looks like me being more in touch with gratitude for everything we have on this planet.

I work hard at not taking it for granted.  I practice love and gratitude.  So when I wreck my car and I can’t bring myself to have the insurance company put aftermarket “new” parts on it, when there is stock piles of damaged cars for the picking to get used parts off of, I do it.  I just drive my car wrecked until which time, I can do less harm.

You see being green isn’t about fast and easy, it is about taking our time to do what is best for our home.  It is about taking care of, just like we would our own homes, or apartments, or condos.  We keep them clean and take care of them.  Our planet is no different.   It is our home!  Being green on the inside is important.  It dictates our choices.  It’s Hip To Be Green®

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dakota Access Protesters Trashed the Land?

Dakota Access Protesters Trashed the Land?  So, they are being accused of doing so, is it true?

On February 7, the Trump Administration gave the final green light to the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, bringing an end to the efforts of thousands of water protectors gathered to protest its construction. The media coverage at Standing Rock has been divided at best, and even now, as the last of the people have been forced to evacuate, they are accused of trashing the land around them.  

People all over the world started arriving last August (and even earlier) because they want clean energy and believe it is time we fight our dependence on big oil with greener technologies, not pipelines that threaten our precious ecosystems. The thousands of protectors who gathered made their presence and voices stand in unison not only to protect the waters potentially affected by this pipeline, but to show that it truly is hip to be green. As Louise Liu pointed out in Business Insider, the protest helped reshape “the national conversation for any environmental project that would cross the Native American land,” despite ultimately losing the battle against NDAPL. We hope that the conversation will also continue at national and even global levels to stand in solidarity against companies who harm our earth.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has refused to extend the deadlines needed for the protectors to return to the land and collect the donations and their personal belongings held at the camp. Because of the winter, especially with freezing and thawing temperatures that create tremendous mud, many people cannot return to collect their items. The USACE’s refusal to work with them will cost taxpayers roughly $1 million for them to complete the cleanup. Many belongings have been bulldozed and tossed into the landfill.  

What a waste.

Depending on your point of view, you’ll find a story about the cleanup (or lack thereof) that suits your worldview. This type of relativism lends many to believe that “alternative facts” can be used to label anything that doesn’t match how we see things. But in some cases you can leave all of that behind, and just do what you know to be right. Being green can happen, no matter what facts you want to listen to. 

Being green is about small, tiny choices you can make all day long— regardless of what you believe about protecting our environment. Many people choose to bring less and less chemicals in their homes. From cleaning products to organic food to the creams we rub on our skin, there has been a strong movement to “green ourselves up” from the insides of our homes to the insides of our bodies. We want to protect our family’s health. We make these choices apparent with the products that we buy, and when you see the availability increasing you know that the demand is also raising for these types of conscious consumerism. It is Hip To Be Green! Many of us choose not to bring toxins into our personal environments, even if climate change is not something we choose to acknowledge or think about. However, you can also make small, tiny choices that help to keep our planet clean. You can be an earth protector every day.  Whether “Green” is only to protect your family’s health or to protect the Earth, It is Hip To Be Green!  

Forward Not Back Climate Change Vote November

Forward Not Back on Climate Change, Vote this November. In the next few months Americans have to make a important choice of who to elect as President of the United States of America.  While this isn’t a political post, it is a call to action.  President Obama tonight said in his speech that “climate change isn’t hoax” and we can make a difference in the coming election.  I’ve heard so many people say that the record heats this year has really changed their mind about climate change.  Watching the fires in Colorado was heart breaking.  Seeing a friend post on facebook a record high of 126 degrees blew my mind.  It is scary for me to think that this could get worse.  I can’t imagine how bad it might get.  Living a green lifestyle couldn’t be more important.  In this election this November it couldn’t be more important to really plug in to the important issues of each party.  Keeping in mind that we live on this planet Earth and that protecting the environment isn’t about saving the planet, it is about saving ourselves, it is however, the only planet we have.  The planet will survive, we however will have a harder time surviving.

When the heat gets much hotter (during the warm months)  our vegetables won’t grow, the cattle will have a hard time surviving. All plant life will have a hard time surviving.  Our entire lifestyle might have to change to adapt to the increasing temperatures and also the lower temperatures during the winter. The effects of Climate Change have already started to occur.  Climate change isn’t just about a hotter climate it is an imbalance in temperatures.  Erratic temperatures that will be extremes in both directions. Massive natural disasters will continue to occur.  Scientists have been preaching this for decades. The time has come for us to act.

Being green isn’t a luxury, it is a necessity.  Working together as a nation to do our part to lesson the disasters of this planet due to climate change is a positive step forward. I for one choose to go Forward not Back in the next 4 years.  I feel that our survival and our children’s survival is important.  I hope that no matter what your stance is on the election, you will educate yourself on the issues and vote this November!

College Student Going Green

It’s an exciting time of your child’s life when they go off to college for the first time.  It can be a hectic and emotional time too.  Lots of planning and a long list of supplies to buy before school even begins.  This time of the year can be expensive, overwhelming and also crazy.  In the midst of all of this chaos being green might be the least of your worries.  Besides your soon to be college student wants to have a hip room and hip clothes to wear to school.

Green doesn’t necessarily have to be dull and boring and over spending sure isn’t fun.  Cutting down on spending helps your budget and also helps the environment when you don’t over do on buying products.

You can send your college student to school with the hip and “in style” and still watch your carbon footprint and here is how.

  • Buy clothing that is sustainable and or used.  Start shopping early so that you don’t binge buy.  There are some really cool “in” clothing that is eco friendly.  The great thing about ‘vintage” is that it is Hip already.  Shopping at thrift stores can save you lots of money.  If buying used isn’t your thing, try buying Bamboo Fashion clothing.  It not only wrinkles less, it is light weight so it packs up easy and is very easy to care for, and it’s super soft!  It usually doesn’t need ironing and dries quickly, which is great for the student on the go.  It makes a great year around fabric and layers easily.

  •  Organizational supplies are a must with dorm living.  Believe it or not organization is very eco friendly.  The more organized you are, the less likely you are to buy more than you need.  When you have less space, organization is paramount.  College students need to keep track of their studies, supplies and everyday items, so it will save them time.  You can buy natural fiber and sustainable file cabinets, drawers and school supplies.  Everything you need can be eco friendly for your student’s dorm room.  Natural fiber baskets, bins and desks make your student hip and going green.
  • Room decor, what college student doesn’t want to have a hip dorm room and bathroom.  Mainstream products can be tempting, but you might find that natural products are just as appealing.  Bamboo sheets and comforters, natural fiber pillows and even blinds can be made from a more sustainable and earth friendly source. How about Bamboo Towels?  We have them along with bathroom rugs, and even robes and slippers.

What an exciting time this is for your family.  It can also be a very light footprint for the environment and an opportunity to educate your family on the importance of Going Green!  Just a little planning can make your college student’s dorm healthier and hip! Check out our full line of eco friendly products for students at www.mypumpkindoodle.com

 

 

 

 

 

Being Green on a Budget

I often have heard people say that they will go green when they can afford to.  Things are tight now and Green Products are more expensive.  That certainly can be the case, as with anything.  Luxury products do cost more.  I also know that living a green lifestyle myself, that I save money.  I re-use, and re-design and re-furbish and I save.  I use cardboard boxes in my organic garden to prevent weeds. I use my twisty ties and rubber bands that come on my fruit and veggies for all kinds of uses.  I re-use containers and brown paper bags.  My daughter loves to make cool projects from paper bags and left over tissue paper from gifts.  She make puppet stages and all kinds of inventions out of cardboard boxes.  It saves on buying new toys.  She learns creativity and I can re-cycle it when she is done.  I sell on e-bay and Craigslist.  We buy used and we trade toys… all these things add up to saving a lot of money.  I can buy green products that are quality made because I save in other ways.  We use peanut butter jars to drink out of…  it’s great, I never have to worry if one breaks…  I used my tin watering can that finally rusted out, for a new planter.  It’s decorative and unique.  I’d have to say that being green and living a green lifestyle isn’t expensive at all unless you choose for it to be.  It can be very affordable and even frugal.  Freecycle is a great way to be green.  Yard sales, thrift stores are also great and you can sometimes find some really nice finds.  There are countless ways of being green.  You don’t have to wait until the finances get better.  You can actually help your finances by being green.  Besides being green is Hip! and it connects you to a greater cause and one that makes you feel good.  You meet wonderful people and share a common goal.  Being green is fun and educational.  It becomes the new way of life and it becomes a habit.   I don’t even realize sometimes how green I am, because it’s natural for me now.   Green living is the New, consumerism is going out as people realize how wasteful life has been up to this point, and the enormous impact it is having on us all. Give it a try! One step at a time..

I’m Green I Recycle, What more can I do!

Recently had conversations with people and it’s natural that in creating friendships that people want to know what you do for a living.  When I tell them I’m a Green Living Online Store owner, the “Green” questions arise.  It’s really interesting that they think because they recycle that is all there is to being Green.  Don’t get me wrong, recycling is a HUGE deal.  It shouldn’t be taken lightly, but by far is only a small fraction of what being Green is all about.  I love, really love helping people see the small steps they can take to becoming more Green.  Being green doesn’t have to be such a huge life changing event once you understand that you can take small steps that make a big difference in the world and then move on to larger steps later.  If becoming Greener seems scary, too overwhelming or you just don’t have time to read all about it to make the changes, here are some tips that you can do now to make the movement from “just recycling” to having a more greener lifestyle.

 

  • Donate to Goodwill, Freecycle or Salvation Army
  • Save old towels and wash cloths for rags
  • Have Yard Sales
  • Use Non Voc or Low VOC paints
  • Use car washes that recycle their water
  • Buy Green cleaning, and bath & body products
  • Turn your hot water heater down
  • Close windows and doors in the evening to prevent heat escape
  • Turn your thermostat down at night or up if it is air conditioning
  • When  traveling refuse to have sheets changed daily
  • Use a re-usable shopping bag and drinking travel cup
  • Use non-toxic-non-chemical products on your lawn and yard
  • Buy Organic food whenever possible
  • Buy used clothing
  • Look for recycled content when buying new
  • Repair instead of replace when possible

Each step you take creates a ripple in the world that will spread and eventually become commonplace.  It makes a huge difference in the Green movement.  Little by little with every step the world becomes cleaner, healthier and more sustainable for all life.  Make the change to one new Green step a month and you can have a Greener lifestyle in no time.  For a listing of our our Green Living products visit us at www.mypumpkindoodle.com

 

Green Bedroom Is it Important?

Bedrooms often get overlooked when thinking about Green. People tend to forget about sleeping hours and focus on the waking hours for being green.  In fact the bedroom can be one of the most toxic rooms in the house.  Most especially when your talking about mattresses.  So much goes into making a bedroom feel comfortable and relaxing that we don’t realize all that decor can be toxic. . It’s nice to have a beautiful bedroom, but it is also important to have a healthy bedroom.  During our sleeping hours it is very important to have a non-toxic, environmentally friendly sleep environment.  An investment in a Green bedroom can improve your sleep, energy level and overall health.  Children are especially susceptible to toxic chemical in bedrooms.  Their developing lungs need a toxic free environment.  Some studies have linked SIDS, allergies and asthma to chemicals in infant mattresses.

This recent study, conducted in Sweden focused on analyzing the air in children’s bedrooms. The researchers were looking for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – gases that are emitted from liquids or solids and which can damage the environment and human health. They tested the air for 8 different VOCs in the bedrooms of 400 children. Nearly half of the children suffered from allergies or asthma, and the other half were healthy.

What they found was a link between the presence of PGEs – propylene glycol and glycol ethers – and asthma, allergies and eczema. In fact, children with PGEs in their bedroom air were between 50 and 180 times more at risk of developing asthma, rhinitis (cold symptoms) and eczema than children whose bedroom air was free of these chemicals.

The study also linked bedroom air containing PGEs to a higher incidence of kids developing antibodies to cats, dogs and pollen. In other words, they are sensitive to pollen and cat or dog dander (usually), and may develop allergic symptoms in the future or already have them.

 

Although mattresses are a huge issue with off gassing chemicals, lets not forget about carpeting, paint, blinds, curtains, and bedding as another major source of chemicals.

 

People have reported a significant improvement in their overall health after taking the steps to create a Green Bedroom.

 

Here are some ways to avoid toxic bedrooms:

 

  • Use Non-Voc paint ( or low VOC)
  • Buy natural fiber blinds or fabric blinds or curtains
  • Buy Wool or Non-VOC carpet
  • Buy Organic cotton or Natural fiber bedding such as Bamboo, Hemp or silk
  • Buy Non-toxic Mattresses made from Wool, Organic Cotton and food grade plastics that have non toxic flame retardants
  • Buy used furniture or furniture finished with Non-VOC paints or coatings
  • Buy sustainable wood furniture
  • Use Bamboo Charcoal to clean and purify the air of allergens and chemicals
  • Use Non-toxic cleaners

check out our full line of Chemical Free Organic mattresses and bedding to make your bedroom safe, healthy and beautiful the natural way.  www.mypumpkindoodle.com

 

 

 

 

Green Heart for Valentines

The holidays are over and most people are settling into the new year. Cleaning and organizing, storing holiday decorations and gift wrap neatly packed up until next year.  It’s true the holiday season is the most wasteful time of the year, but not far behind it is Valentine’s day.  Valentine’s cards and candy boxes, gift wrap and bows end up in the landfill.

189 Million Stemmed Roses are sold in the US each year on Valentines day. In comparison 1.2 billion are sold throughout the year. It is estimated that 144 million cards are exchanged each Valentine’s Day. 

Here are some of the ways you can have a wonderful Green Heart at Valentines this year, and still make your loved ones feel the LOVE.

  • Recycle, Recycle, Recycle cards, bottles, boxes and gift wrap
  • Re-use cards, boxes, gift wrap and re-purpose them
  • Compost what you can
  • Send e-cards
  • Buy recycled content cards or plantable seed cards
  • Buy Organic, fair trade or ethical candies and treats
  • Choose restaurants that have living wages, recycle and offer ethical or sustainable food
  • Choose evening events that are close by or within walking distance to save emissions
  • Buy live plants and flowers that can be replanted
  • Buy handcrafted items and/or items made from natural resources
  • Take a carriage ride instead of driving
  • Support local business and local farmers when possible
  • If you travel by air -off set your carbon footprint
  • Roses say “I love you” on Valentines day.  Try and buy Organic or chemical free Roses from local farms

With the amount of cards thrown out each year (144 million) in a landfill or even recycled, which is far better, but can still pose a problem, it is an enormous carbon footprint in the USA.  Imagine if all those cards were planted to make beautiful flowers or Vegetables? That’s a lot of beauty!  Could feed a lot of people too!  189 Million Roses purchased each year on Valentine’s Day, has a huge impact on so many issue with the environment with the chemicals used to keep those Roses looking great and blooming for Valentine’s Day, the dyes used to color them, along with the spray to make them shine. It’s far more than the average consumer is aware of.  This Valentine’s Day make a commitment to give with a Green Heart and have a Eco Valentine’s Day.

 

 

 

Eco New Year!

As this year comes to an end, we think about all the wonderful happenings of the year, and also some of the not so wonderful happenings of the year. It is a time of reflection and a time of resolution.  This year in particular has been such an amazing year of history making all over the world.  It is a unforgettable year for some.  It has also been a year of heartache and disaster, homelessness and joblessness.   Certainly for me it has been a year of taking notes about the situation this country is in, where it needs to go, to better serve the 99%, and how to take part in turning this country into a country for all.

It continues to sadden me the amount of people that feel that global warming is the reason for being Green and that there is still  a possibility of not existing.  I read it on blogs and see it in the general public – the disbelief.   The feeling that “Green People” are on a lost quest into nowhere.  I do believe that Global Warming is happening because I see it… now 54 degrees the day after Christmas and my tulips are starting to pop up in December.  I see the trees blooming in Winter instead of spring…. However, as I continue on my quest to bring awareness to people, Global warming is not all what it is about.

Even if we wake up tomorrow and  a scientist confirms beyond a doubt that Global Warming is not occurring, would I be angry, NO absolutely not.  All this Green movement would not be in vain.  The Green movement will still be very necessary.

Here is why:  We have massive oil spills in our oceans that is causing tremendous damage,  we have air pollution that is causing lung disease and birth defects, allergies and asthma related issues,  We have literately tons of trash mounding up in our land, so much so that we are running out of places to put it.  We have millions of homeless people, starving people around the world, without clothing, heat and necessities of life.  We have toxic drinking water.  The single most important issue on this planet is water, which besides air is the thing we cannot live without.  We have people in this world living in sewage infested areas with disease.  All this gives me every reason to fight for a cause I’m so passionately aware of, this world needs to be cleaner, healthier and more abundant for ALL it’s inhabitants. not just the 1%.

Whatever your political views are, you cannot be blind to the scarcity of food on this planet in certain areas of the world, the massive waste our own country as well as other countries, the massive people without healthcare, homes and even clothing.  You cannot be blind to the toxic air ( massive pollution you see above your heads clouding the cities) and you cannot be blind to the Oil spills and trash in our Oceans, unless you just want to not see it.

Again, I must say that Being Green is a Hip and Very Necessary thing to do! It isn’t about some trend that will pass, or a new wave of protests that eventually disappear, this is our future and our children’s future we are fighting for.  It is so that our consumerism doesn’t pollute the world to the point global disaster.

Whatever the blockage is for you about going green, it will be far more of an inconvenience to live in a world that is far more uninhabitable.   I’m in awe of this amazing planet we call home, rather than pack up and head for another planet once we’ve disposed of this one, why not make small changes that will help regenerate this world and we can enjoy it as a thriving planet, not a disposable planet.   I know some people really feel that is far reached.  Actually it might not happen in your life time, but most likely in your children’s or grand children’s  life time.  It is a possibility, if we don’t begin our journey now.  Changes on this massive scale take time, and it won’t be an over night healing process, but we can begin to shift our destructive ways into more sustainable, proactive and humane ways of living.  Where all life on this planet is cared for, thriving and treated with respect.

It is my hopes for the coming year, that people take a long look at the actions that they are causing on this planet and the effect it is having on the world as a whole, instead of the mentality of instant gratification and a disposable world, or one of apathy  and denial.

Whatever steps you take towards a cleaner, healthier world will be of tremendous benefit to the world as a whole.  Make this new year a Eco New Year! Not for Climate Change /Global warming, but for cleaner air, cleaner water, healthier children and cleaner oceans, rivers and soil.  To support the 99% of this world from living in conditions that are unnecessary and unfair to the working class and the poor.   Support a true democracy in this country, one that stands of the premise of our founding fathers for equal opportunity for all man. Instead of one for corporate greed and control.  Let’s work for a cooperative, true democracy in this country.  Here is to a more prosperous and healthy new year in 2012!  Happy New Year! www.mypumpkindoodle.com