Black Friday can it be Green

The question comes up; Black Friday can it be Green? I think it can be more green.  Certainly it is one of the most wasteful days of the year in the USA. Millions of wasteful products are handed out, thrown away during this busiest shopping day of the year.  Not to mention the carbon dumped into the air by the massive vehicle use sitting in traffic etc.  One might ask, how can Black Friday be Green.  It can be Greener than it is.  Here are a few steps you can take the help Green your Black Friday shopping.

  • Carpool
  • Empty out your trunk ( lighten your load)
  • Take re-usable shopping bags
  • Refuse disposable or marketing materials handed out
  • Buy Eco friendly or Recycled content products
  • Recycle all the bags, paper, cardboard etc.
  • Re-use items or re-invent items you don’t use anymore
  • Donate instead of trashing
  • Shop in one area to avoid excessive driving
  • Buy products that have replacement parts
  • Buy quality made products that will last
  • Buy used if possible, it’s hip and it’s Green!
  • Buy charitable gifts such as a goat for a 3rd world family
  • Shop local and support handcrafted and local made products
  • Buy Organic, eco-friendly products as much as possible
  • Hand make your gifts

So many options when it comes to Greening your Black Friday shopping. It’s endless the small steps you can take to save money and help the environment as much as possible. Help keep the millions of tons of waste out of the landfills by taking steps to lessen your carbon footprint.  Black Friday can be Green! Shop all of our Organic products 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.

 

 

 

Have yourself a Merry Eco Christmas, let your footprint be light

Soon gifts will be opened, family gatherings, parties will take place.  This is the most wasteful time of the year. 5 million tons more waste during the months of November and December.  How can you make your Merry Christmas a Eco Christmas or whatever your religious beliefs are, A Merry Eco holiday!  Give the gifts you desire to give and feel better about it.  We have suggestions on wonderful Eco gifts for the entire family.  Buying Green quality made products means they will last longer and in many cases can be handed down to someone else.  This is huge in the reduction of waste in this country.  One of the Greenest things you can do it buy quality made products that will last.  Check out some of our holiday selections:

 

 

 

 

 

Our Eco Furniture is not only Unique & Stylish but also reduces waste.  The design is such that allows for years of usage first a bed then a chair.  Non toxic finishes and sustainable wood products make it a super deal.  Lasts for years and many children later.  Many mainstream products are not Green and usually don’t last for years.  With our products you get the best of both.  Sale! Pumpkin Doodle

 

 

 

 

 

Our certified Organic Cotton Robes are a great value!  On Sale!  These luxury robes outlast mainstream robes.  Made from the finest GOTS Certified cotton the are soft and absorbent.  These robes make great gifts for any loved one.  Matching slippers make a great gift set. Mom or Dad will love to wrap themselves in Eco Luxury to have morning coffee.  Take advantage of this great pricing and give the gift of Green this holiday!Women’s Shawl Robes $154.00 now $99.95 while supplies last.  Pumpkin Doodle

 

 

So many chemicals in children’s clothing. Mainstream cotton has the highest levels of pesticides.  Our Organic Cotton children’s clothing is made in the USA by Sustainable kids.  Eco clothing doesn’t have to be dull!  These unique and hip clothing for kids make being green hip and cool!  Kids love sustainable kids clothing for the comfort and style.  Mom’s love them because they are affordable and pesticide free! Feel better about your gifts this year. Buy Green!  Check out our full line of Eco children’s clothing. Save now while supplies last! Pumpkin Doodle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas Tree Debate!

Christmas Tree Debate Real or Plastic?

Over the years I’ve heard so many comments about what is considered the eco thing to do when it comes to buying Christmas Trees.  Some have commented that real trees, cut down trees and therefore it is much Greener to have an artificial tree.  Some say it is much Greener to have a Real Tree!
Here are some facts to help you decide:
Plastic trees last longer, yes, but they also will eventually end up in the landfill and take over 500 years to decompose.  The carbon footprint of the production of a plastic tree and the toxins it produces to make them are of real concern.
  • Artificial trees are made of PVC a toxic plastic which off gas toxic chemicals
  • Artificial trees are non recyclable and non biodegradable
  • Artificial trees are made of petroleum and metal and have a high carbon footprint
  • Artificial trees are cleaner and less messy and maybe the choice with people with tree allergies
33 million live trees are sold in the US every year.  This benefits local tree farmers and helps the environment. Most trees take up to 16 years to harvest.  These trees are re-planted, from seeds, which keeps the cycle of trees constantly going.  Live trees biodegrade much faster.  I suggest getting your tree locally and driving as close as you can get the tree to avoid the carbon footprint of emissions.
  • One single tree absorbs 1 ton of carbon emissions in it’s life time.
  • Live Christmas trees are a sustainable product, they are replanted / replaced each year.
  • Live Trees employ over 100,000 Americans
  • Live Trees can be mulched, used for landscaping, gardening or erosion control
  • Live trees can have an impact on the environment if pesticides are used to grow them
  • Live trees can be purchased with a bulb and replanted for next Christmas
  • Live trees need to be discarded outside of a landfill, landfills don’t provide enough oxygen for decomposition

The best option for live trees would be a chemical free tree or an organically grown tree that is locally grown. If you must purchase a artificial tree search and see if you can find one that is used. It has less off-gassing and is much better for the environment because new ones don’ t have to be made. Until which time food grade plastic trees or other sustainable fiber trees can be made, our vote is on a live Christmas tree! They have a wonderful aroma too! Enjoy your holidays!

Shop Green this Holiday Season with Pumpkin Doodle!

Cyber Monday Is it Cool?

Tomorrow is the biggest shopping day for online retailers.  It is like Black Friday for brick and mortar stores.  It is what keeps most stores in business as the majority of their sales come during this season.  So many people into the Green movement stray away from this shopping frenzy.  However you can make Cyber Monday a Green one!  Buy Green! Use Ethical Green Small business to buy your holiday shopping  gifts.  You can get really great deals on Green, Eco friendly products during the Cyber Monday sales.  Here are really great deals we are offering.

Organic Cotton Robes these are truly the Rolls Royce of Bath Robes… Amazingly soft and well made. GOTS certified Organic Cotton.  We have matching slippers also.  Perfect for Him or Her. On Sale! Was $154.00 now $144.00  Buy Now

 

 

Organic Cotton Slipper
Organic Cotton Shawl Robe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mom’s and daughter’s love to polish their nails and with the toxic chemicals in nail polish and remover, many mom’s don’t.  We have nail polish and remover that is Earth Friendly and Non-toxic.  Made from earth’s materials… They make great stocking suffers and friend gifts too!  Mom might want some for herself. Set includes 3 colors. Polish remover can by purchased in gift sets or separately. Check out our full line of Natural Nail polish and accessories Buy Now $23.50

 

Indluge Nail Polish
Natural Nail Polish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every home needs  candles. Main stream candles have toxic chemicals. Most are made from Petroleum.  Some are made from GMO soybeans.  Our candles are made from Organically grown soybeans.  They are as Eco friendly as candles can be.  Amazing aroma and longer lasting.  Fill your home with the sweet smell of Organic grown soy candles in amazing scents.  One for every room in the house.  They make great gifts!  Buy Now!

16 oz Soy Scented Candle Blue
Scented Soy Candles

 

The holiday season is a time for Toys and lots of them. Little girls and boys love to receive toys under the tree!  We have a wide selection of Wood, Organic and Natural toys , games and playdough.  Let their imagination soar with our Eco toys.  Children learn from playtime and what a great way to make sure they are safe from harsh chemicals.  Check out our advanced wooden block set on Sale from $94.00 to $78.95 amazing savings!  Buy Now

Advanced Wooden Block Set
Advanced Wooden Block Set

 

 

Being Green doesn’t have to be expensive.  Buy Green this holiday season and feel good knowing your helping the massive mass market of toxic products that are produced every year. Many of which end up in the landfill.  Give your family the best in quality and Eco products.  Check out our full line of products at www.mypumpkindoodle.com Happy Shopping!  Happy Holidays!

 

Black Friday Shopping

Thanksgiving is this week. A time for us to stop and think about all we are grateful for.  This holiday is my favorite holiday as I always have so much to be grateful for.  It is also a sad time of the year “the holiday season” where so much waste occurs.  In the time of Thanksgiving, lets take a look at this amazing planet we have to support us, feed us and give us beauty.  I find this planet amazing, and I’m always in AWE of it.

So when you  sit down to have your meal and go around the table to say what your are grateful for in your lives, family, friends, health , job and home, let’s add this amazingly beautiful planet.  Let’s treat it as our home and nurture it, protect it as it is precious.  Generations to come deserve to have this amazing planet preserved so they can enjoy it also.

Each year around the holidays 5 million extra tons of waste are produced than any other time of the year! That’s 25% more trash that goes into the landfills.

I don’t know about you, but I cannot fathom 5 million tons of trash!  That’s just during the holiday season.  Every time you re-use wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbon and bows you save lots of trash from going into the landfill. It is imperative to recycle during the holiday season!

Here are some pre-holiday tips for the up and coming Black Friday shopping frenzy.  Planning ahead can reduce waste.

  • Have oil changed and check air filters: traffic is heavy and people sit in traffic a long time in between stores this saves on emissions and saves gas.
  • Avoid heavy traffic roads and plan on back streets to avoid sitting in traffic
  • Clean out your trunk prior to shopping
  • Take shopping bags and fold them for easy carrying.
  • Use lightweight easily compact shopping bags
  • Refuse plastic bags
  • Combine products into other bags
  • Buy wood toys and other non – plastic gifts
  • Buy gifts that you know will be used for long time
  • Avoid throw away gifts
  • Send e-cards or have children make cards for gifts
  • Use last years wrapping paper, bows, and ribbon
  • Buy Green, Eco friendly gift bags, ribbon or bows
  • Use fabric gift bags
  • Carpool to the shopping malls
  • Buy family gifts instead of individual gifts
  • Buy gifts that have replacement parts or warranties
  • Buy Energy star products that save energy
  • Buy products made from recycled content or can be recycled
  • Avoid shopping at large franchise stores and shop local businesses
  • Buy quality made over quantity
  • Donate to a charity for a gift
  • Buy Handmade items from local artists / craftsmen
  • Buy Non-toxic , Organic and chemical free products
  • Be aware when shopping the carbon footprint and where the item will go after it’s been used. Can it be re-used.

 

Every step we take towards cutting down on trash during the holiday season helps cut down the 5 million tons of trash produced each year from Thanksgiving to New Years. Have a safe and enjoyable Green Holiday season! Be Green! Take a look at our online Eco store for many Eco Friendly products!  www.mypumpkindoodle.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Green Parties

With the 4th of July coming up soon in our country many people celebrate with Independence Day cookouts, outdoor parties and picnics.  It is also time for social activities during warm months. Fireworks, street festivals and outdoor live music it is a very exciting time of the year, summer!  Everyone wants to spend as much time outdoors as possible!

Anywhere there is a party, there is lots of waste. You can smell the charcoal and lighter fluid as people gear up to grill out!  Soda cans, alcohol containers, plastic bottles, cups and plates fill the trash cans.   No one wants to be burdened with lots of clean up time and so disposable everything comes into play.

Plastic is such a huge issue and one that is an everyday occurrence for some people.  Let’s look at the impact that plastic has on the environment. 86% of all ocean debris is plastic.  Over 1 million seabirds or mammals die each year from plastic ingestion or entanglement. Bottle caps and plastic objects can be found inside decomposed carcass because they think the plastic is food. (source: www.mindfully.org/plastic/ocean/Trashed )

Every year Americans use enough paper and plastic cups, forks and spoons to circle the equator 300 times. That is a lot of waste!  From just American’s alone. Over 7 billion pounds of PVC are thrown away in the U.S. each year. Only 18 million pounds of that, or one quarter of 1 percent, is recycled. Chlorine production for PVC  plastic uses almost as much energy as the annual output of eight medium-sized nuclear power plants each year. ( source: http://www.cleanair.org/Waste/wasteFacts.html).

It is important to see that our convenience plays a harsh effect on nature and ultimately ourselves.

How can you Green parties?  Here are some of my suggestions:

 

  • Buy biodegradable plastic or bamboo utensils, tableware and beverage containers. Use re-usable utensils tableware and drinking containers from home.
  • Use recycled aluminum foil
  • Use eco friendly lighter fluid and charcoal or gas grills
  • Use glass containers for leftovers or biodegradable  re-usable plastic containers
  • Use cloth table cloths and napkins or recycled content products
  • Recycle / Re-use any paper or cardboard boxes
  • Buy local / Organic veggies and sustainable meats
  • Buy Green parties supplies or make your own
  • Send e-vites for invitations
  • Use digital camera
  • Make your own homemade ice-cream – everyone loves homemade ice-cream it can be fun!
  • Make your own punch from glass bottle juices and beverages. Buy a keg instead of six pack
  • If you buy soda’s, buy litter bottles and re-use the plastic when done.  Don’t forget to recycle when done
  • Use Soy Candles
  • Use natural bug repellents ( bug zappers kill even beneficial insects)
  • Use rechargeable batteries
  • Local entertainment is a great way to support our economy at home and less impact on the environment
  • Clean up when you leave the outdoor area! Leave no trace.
  • Re-use everything you can
  • Use solar lighting for decks, pools and outdoor picnic areas.
  • Decorate with natural plants and flowers.  Some are also good for insect control!
  • Don’t dump toxic liquids in the ground. Dispose of everything properly
  • BE aware of fire hazards. Take special care when you are using fire. Be prepared to put out a fire.
  • Use steel ice and beverage buckets instead of plastic
  • Eat leftovers!

It may not seem like much, but with the amount of plastic produced each year, if everyone takes these steps it can cut the amount of plastic used down and the amount of energy used to produce the plastic down by an amazing amount!  Have an Green Party and a Eco fun Summer!

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Does Your Sweetie have a Green Heart

February is here and everyone is thinking about Valentines Day!  This time of year tons of waste end up in the landfills.  Cards, boxes, gift wrap and plastic are thrown away.  It is in line after the religious holidays for waste.  How can you fill your loved ones eyes with amazement and sentiments of love and not damage the environment? We have some really wonderful Green Valentines gifts for those of you that have a Sweetie with a Green Heart!

Glass Straws make a great gift! 52 Million plastic straws are thrown away each day. Do your part to help prevent plastic from going into the landfills.  Your sweetie will love our decorative dots drinking straws!

Set of Decorative Dot Drinking Straws

We have a great selection of Eco fabric clothing and accessories  for that special someone in your life. Mom deserves a little Eco luxury!

Dad’s need a little Eco Valentines Gift too! Spring is on it’s way and Dad will love these soft and lightweight shorts for the warmer weather!

Bamboo Viscose Shorts

Have a special someone that likes to garden?  We have the perfect Eco Garden Gift! These are recyclable too!  Comes in 9 attractive colors!

Simple Herb Garden

How about your little angel wearing these adorable non-toxic soft soled shoes on Valentines day!

Soft Soled Baby Paw for Girls & Boys

Give the gift of love to your favorite Valentine and for the environment! It will mean so much more to your Sweetie with a Green Heart!  We have a wide selection of Gifts for the entire family and Pets too! Check us out! www.mypumpkindoodle.com

After the Holidays are over-How to be Green!

Trees are decorated, gifts are wrapped and holiday plans made, shew glad that is done. But what do you do with all the waste when its done?  In the past we just gathered it all up and tossed it in the garbage, not even giving a thought to what happens next.  Out of site out of mind… so the saying goes. Yet decades have gone by with that mindset and where has it gotten us?  To the place where we are now with too much waste –  mounds of trash and toxic air and water.  So what can you do to reduce this impact on the planet and still enjoy your holidays? Changing habits isn’t easy but it can be fun!  After awhile you will find that it isn’t so much a hassle anymore, it will just become your new habit. Here are some great suggestions on what to do when the holidays are over:

  • Re-use wrapping papers and gift bags and bows if you can, if not recycle them
  • Use cardboard boxes for kids to be creative with and make pretend toys
  • Recycle cardboard boxes or save to use for storage
  • Recycle your live Christmas Tree by mulching it or setting out for the city to mulch- let it compost on it’s own – wild animals love it
  • Recycle plastic bags or re-use them – some people make decorations from them
  • Clean out old items clothing, coats, toys and gift them to Goodwill or Freecycle
  • Re-gift  it is the Eco thing to do!  It’s hip to be green so go for it
  • Compost your uneaten food and scraps.  Remember to eat leftovers- it saves money and the environment
  • Re-use decorations, ornaments, trimmings
  • Donate the packing peanuts to the nearby UPS Store they like them
  • Donate used Holiday cards to your local school or daycare- they make crafts from them next season
  • Save un-savable gift wrap and bows for your home craft projects, it save on buying them later – kids love it!

It is estimated that 3 Million tons of waste is created during the holiday season- that’s a lot of trash. The Religious Holiday season is the most wasteful time of the year and even more of a reason to begin with new habits of disposing of waste. This is the time of year most people put recycling on hold – and also a time when it is needed more than ever!  It really can be fun and educational and a great way to teach your children how to be Green. Even the little steps we make will add up if we all take action. Happy Holidays! www.mypumpkindoodle.com

Green Your Kids Holiday Gifts

Black Friday is here and consumerism at it’s highest.  Huge sales and irresistible promotions. How do you shake the holiday spending drive?  I have to say it is very tempting all the commercials, sales and the rush you feel when you’ve got all your shopping done and saved money.  Part of being in the Green mindset is to realize that this is the very issue we are trying to change.  The ad’s the marketing gimmicks and the way they work on your desire to have more and more. The credit card companies and stores depend on the money they make during holiday season as it is the biggest spending time of the year.  Kids learn very early on these marketing ploys to draw us in to buy.  Commercials get to kids advertising plastic and disposable  toys that will end up in the landfill in no time, rarely are they ever passed down to another child. Children grow up more aware of the environment when they are given toys and play supplies that are more environmentally friendly.  They grow up healthier when given toys that are free from PVC and phthalates, which off gas. Some toys despite regulations, still have toxic paint on them. Children spend long hours playing with these toxic toys.

Our commitment is to the environment, and we sell toys that are not only non-toxic, but quality made and ethical, they have a lighter footprint on the environment.  Some of our toys have replacement parts.  Replacement parts are rare in the toy industry where disposable is the norm. Our Maple Landmark Toys uses sustainable wood in its handmade toys and uses non-toxic paints and finishes. They offer repair and replacements for their toys. When you buy Maple Landmark Toys you are paying for quality that can be passed down for years of use. When comparing pricing, I think you will find our Toys are very comparable to toys made of plastic that are not ethical made and are toxic.  You know the old saying” you get what you pay for”.  I think that is so true in some respects.

Name Train Set
Maple Landmark Name Train Set

Little Colorado Company is also a Green company that not only produces Green Toys in the USA but also ships it’s toys with recycled packaging inside and out. They also use only wood harvested from ethical resources and any MDF used is certified Green.  The quality of these two companies is unsurpassed.  Their commitment to children’s safety and the environment is not compromised by the quality and value you receive with these toys.  Children’s imagination is developed with pretend play and with these ethical Green Toys, you can allow your child to develop naturally without all the electronic plastic on the market that doesn’t allow for much imagination.

Little Colorado Playhouse Kit
Little Colorado Playhouse kit

Remember the cost of plastic toys on the environment and you child’s health when you purchase a gift for a child. Our toys are ethical, well made, non-toxic and affordable.  Check out our complete selection of Green Toys at www.mypumpkindoodle.com