10 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR PLASTIC USE

1. Instead of using plastic containers and  bags to store food & leftovers, use glass containers or jars instead. Wash
out & reuse mason jars, baby food jars, etc. You can also purchase glass storage containers at Crate & Barrel.

2. Think twice before ordering take out food, as there is an incredible amount of plastic waste generated from one carryout order. If  you do order food to go, decline any “extras” like plastic silverware, ketchup packets, etc. Encourage your local restaurants to use less plastic by suggesting that they use biodegradable plastic cups, silverwareand to go containers. A great selection of these items is available on greenhome.com.

3. Wash out & reuse your plastic food storage bags. Not only will you be cutting down on plastic bag disposal, you will also save money! Look for bags made using less plastic, such as the 365 brand available at Whole Foods Market.

4. Invest in reusable produce bags. SmartCycle makes reusable produce bags from 100% recycled plastic bottles, available at reusablebags.com.

5. Keep your reusable bags in your car so you never forget to bring them into the grocery store. Keep a Chico bag or similar compact reusable bag in your purse so that you have it on hand for all purchases.

6. Instead of using plastic baggies or  saran wrap for sandwiches & snacks, buy reusable sandwich wraps & snack pouches. Find a bunch of varieties & sizes at reusablebags.com.

7. Start thinking green when it comes to birthday parties. Think reusable and biodegradable when purchasing everything from tablecloths to
silverware. Buy biodegradable cutlery, plates, cups, etc. at letsgogreen.biz.

8. Either forego the plastic bag for birthday party giveaways or choose a reusable one. Personalized reusable lunch bags make a great giveaway and can be put to good use instead of ending up in the trash!

9. Instead of buying toys, etc. made of or packaged in plastic for kids birthday gifts, try buying items that are gentler on the environment and  won’t sit in our landfills forever.  Miss Brittany’s Organic Fun Dough makes a perfect gift, it is made from all organic ingredients and is packaged
using recycled, compostable & biodegradable materials.

10. Stop buying plastic water bottles and invest in a good, BPA free water bottle. Be sure to bring it to work, to the gym, etc. SIGG bottles (www.sigg.com) are my personal favorite, as they are stainless steel which makes them pretty much unbreakable. They are also thoroughly tested to ensure 0% leaching of any substance – no trace of BPA, BPB or any phthalates. They come in kids sizes too!

Chicago Green Family Fun Fest, August 15th and 16th

VIEW THE POSTER FOR LOTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL EVENT!

GFF KidsPoster5

UPCOMING EVENTS

There are some wonderful green events this month in the Chicagoland area that we strongly encourage you to check out!

FUNDRAISER FOR THE GREEN BUS – Friday, August 7th, English Bar & Grill, 444 N. Lasalle, Chicago: Come out and support The Big Green Bus, a group of 15 Dartmouth students traveling cross-country to talk about the environment and promote sustainable living. There will be food and drink specials on 2 different organic beers & vodkas, and an “Eco Goodie Bag” (retail value $100) being sold for $25. All proceeds will benefit The Big Green Bus. The Big Green Bus will also be at The Green City Market (www.chicagogreencitymarket.org) in Chicago on Saturday the 8th. For more information on The Green Bus go to www.thebiggreenbus.org.

VEGGIE FEST – August 8th & 9th, Naperville, IL: Over 100 food vendors, exhibitors and restaurants will be at Veggie Fest. There will also be complimentary workshops, cooking classes and children’s programs. For more information go to www.veggiefestchicagoland.org.

CHICAGO GREEN FAMILY & MUSIC FEST – August 15th & 16th, Eckhart Park (1330 W. Chicago Avenue): The Green Music Fest is where thousands of people who care for the environment will unite to enjoy high quality music and discover new ways to go “green.” Vendors will be exclusively green or eco-friendly, whether selling crafts made with recycled materials or techie gadgets made with green components. Furthermore, there will be plenty of fun-filled family activities sponsored by the Chicago Green Parent Network  throughout the weekend that will directly fund improvements to the Eckhart Park playground.  For more information go to www.greenmusicfestchicago.com.

LAST MINUTE GREEN GIFT IDEAS FOR DAD

I do everything last minute, especially these days with a two-year old and a business. I am sure I am not the only one, so here are some last-minute, thoughtful and eco-friendly gifts for Dad, Grandpa, Uncle…

1) Donate money to a charity in his name. Pick a charity close to his heart or yours and feel good knowing you are giving twice – to the man in your life and the charity.

2) Give the gift of a tree from the Arbor Day Foundation, www.arborday.org or an acre in their name from Conservation International - www.conservation.org.

3) Black & Decker Power Monitor – Perfect for the handy Dad who also nags you about turning off the lights when leaving the room. One part attaches to the home electric meter, and the handheld monitor wirelessly gives real-time data about home energy consumption. Now Dad can know exactly where power is being used (and wasted) around the house!

4) For the Dad that is a wine connoisseur, give him a nice bottle of organic wine. Traditional wines are grown with grapes that are usually heavily sprayed with pesticides, while grapes for organic wine are not. “Organic wine is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations”, says the USDA. There are numerous organic wine selections at your local Whole Foods Market.

5) For the meat lover and master griller in the family, there are home delivery services of organic, grass-fed beef. Diamond Organics, www.diamondorganics.com, offers some great selections and overnight delivery.

Happy Father’s Day to all of the wonderful father’s out there!

THE MOST IMPORTANT FRUITS & VEGGIES TO EAT ORGANIC

People are always asking me, “If I am going to spend the money on organic produce, which fruits & vegetables should I be buying?” In today’s tough economy many people aren’t able to spend the extra money for organic produce, but there are some fruits and vegetables that have such high pesticide counts that I would say they are better eating organic or not at all. A peach, for example, can have an astounding 9 pesticides sprayed on it by the time it reaches your grocery store!  Pesticides have been linked to cancer, infertility and birth defects. In an effort to avoid pesticide exposure, try to buy the following 12 fruits & vegetables organic and save money by buying things like broccoli, watermelon, tomato, sweet potato, asparagus and kiwi conventional. For more information on pesticides and a list of how 47 fruits & vegetables score on pesticide exposure go to the Environmental Working Group’s website, www.foodnews.org. Gotta love the Environmental Working Group, in my opinion THE hardest working organization out there, trying the spread the word on how we can all live healthier, less toxic and more sustainable lives!

THE DIRTY DOZEN – The following fruits & vegetables have the highest amounts of pesticides

1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Bell Pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes
11. Carrot
12. Pear

FIVE WAYS TO GREEN YOUR SUMMER BBQs

It’s outdoor grillin’ & chillin’ season (FINALLY!) and here at The Green Board we wanted to share some tips on how to have a more eco-friendly BBQ. Whether it is for 6 people or 60, here are some ways to green your BBQs:

1) Stay away from melamine plateware (all the unbreakable dinnerware with the cute summer patterns at your home stores, etc.) . I see ‘em everywhere and they seem like a great addition to outdoor dining, but melamine is not something you want leaching into your or  your children’s food. When you place hot food right off the BBQ onto a melamine plate you risk that happening. If you do have melamine plates, try to use them strictly for room temperature or cold foods, and don’t place them in the dishwasher of microwave! Here is a good article about melamine if you are interested in reading more: http://healthychild.org/blog/

2) Think about all of the garbage you can generate after just one meal, especially big family dinners or parties. Of course it is easier to use paper plates, napkins & cups so you don’t have to do dishes, but that waste that just ends up sitting in landfills for years. Use cloth napkins  or napkins made from 100% recycled content, choose other reusables over disposables, and/or use biodegradable plateware and cutlery, which you can find in bulk quantities at www.letsgogreen.biz.

3) Just say NO to plastic water bottles this summer! Convenience often times wins over the environment –  how easy it has become just to grab a plastic bottle of  water or hand them out at bbqs or parties, especially now that they have made them small sizes for kids. Well, those water bottles will still be around when your kids turn 80…sitting in landfills, ending up in our bodies of water where they are harmful to wildlife, not to mention the amount of petroleum and energy used to make the billion water bottles consumed in the US per WEEK!

4) Choose nitrate-free hot dogs. Nitrates have been linked to causing cancer and other nasty things (http://www.preventcancer.com). My son can eat hot dogs all day long, so I obviously prefer for them to be chemical & preservative free. Applegate farms makes some great nitrate-free regular, chicken & turkey hot dogs, and are available at your local Whole Foods Market or Trader Joe’s.

5) If you are going to eat meat, choose organic grass fed beef that is free of synthetic hormones and antibiotics. I can list the MANY reasons why it is much healthier for you, your family & the planet, but instead I will direct you to this wonderful website – http://www.organicgrassfedbeefinfo.com.

Recommended Website: Thegreengirls.tv

Being a self-professed “green girl,” I obviously love this website! A bunch of girls on the same mission as me, to help make this planet a little better while having fun in the process – and making it fun for those who get involved! They highlight a ton of girly stuff like fashion and style, but also tackle the bigger sustainability and environmental issues as well. You can get tips about your love life & what to wear while learning about what to eat organic, who we can e-mail to help stop the mining in the Grand Canyon and how to start a green business. AND they interview tons of celebrities discussing their favorite causes. Talk about covering all of the bases! You can even attend their 1-year anniversary bash which is at the eco-friendly ECCO lounge in Hollywood. For more information about this event and to learn more about The Green Girls, log onto www.thegreengirls.tv.

ADD A LITTLE GREEN TO YOUR SPRING!

1) Buy solar powered outdoor lights – the perfect & easy green solution to lighting your backyard or patio. They don’t require any wiring or tricky installation, just push ‘em into the ground and after a day of sun you will get a night of light! You can find them at your local Home Depot.

2) Start composting and use it to fertilize your plants or garden. Composting is now easier than ever thanks to a myriad of bin choices (www.composters.com), composting information on the web and there is now even a composter that you can keep in your kitchen (Nature Mill, www.naturemill.com). Dramatically reduce your waste and save money on fertilizers by using your compost instead. You can start taking small steps to reduce your waste by sprinkling used coffee grounds on your soil which enriches without chemicals or toxic additives.

3) Plant your own organic garden. Save money, the environment and get some good exercise while feeding your family the healthiest fruits & vegetables grown by you! Get your kids involved and make it a fun project. There a millions of books and articles online on how to get started, here is one – www.earth911.com. Not enough space or time for a garden? Grow your own fresh herbs!

4) The best thing you can do right now for the health of your family, pets and environment is to stop using toxic weed killers on your lawn. Read up and become more informed about what is actually in the weed killers and pesticides that are sprayed all over our lawns, playing fields, golf courses, etc (www.beyondpesticides.org). Think about how often your kids and pets (or golf-obsessed husbands) are outside running around on lawns that have recently been sprayed. These chemicals are then tracked into your homes where they contaminate the air, dust, surfaces & carpets, sometimes at levels up to ten times higher than during application. There are organic and safe alternatives out there which work just as well. Our lawn has never been more green since we started using our organic lawn care service and I sleep better at night knowing that I am not putting the health of my family and pets at risk. Look online for a “truly green” lawncare company in your area.

5) Control your outdoor water use. 20 million acres of US land are planted with residential lawns. Think about how much water is needed for 20 million acres! Water your lawn at the most efficient time, early in the morning, before the heat sets in. Get a rain barrel which will collect rain water that you can then use to water your lawn. Heating up the water for your shower?  Get a bucket and use the wasted water on your plants and garden.

Follow Ecominders on Twitter & Facebook

Add a little green to your daily routine by following Ecominders on Twitter & Facebook. We post a daily green update with easy being green tips, our favorite websites, tried & tested green products…well you get the point. Go to twitter.com/ecominders or www.facebook.com.

JOIN ECOMINDERS THIS WEEKEND AT THE GREEN FESTIVAL IN CHICAGO!

JOIN US ON SATURDAY, MAY 16^TH (10am – 7pm) AND SUNDAY, MAY 17^TH (11am – 6pm) AT THE GREEN FESTIVAL CHICAGO, NAVY PIER.

Ecominders will be at booth #918.

Bring the entire family, there will be fun for all ages! 

Visit www.greenfestivals.org/Chicago for more information and speaker schedules.