green resourcesJane Marks-Hastig became known as Green Janie not only because of her green-minded artwork, but because of her efforts to live simply and to make the most out of the resources at hand. This includes finding creative ways to repurpose product packaging from the items we buy, reusing food- and drink- containers, and reducing the use of plastic bags by stashing hip reuseable grocery sacks in the car. Jane's passion for living a sustainable life is evident, and she gently shares this message with others: being earth-friendly is good for everyone!
Listed below are some of the helpful resources Jane has come across for ideas on how to live a simpler, greener life. Also, be sure to check out Jane's blog for practical green tips. Contact Jane to share your favorite green resources. books
Check out your local bookstore or library to see if they carry the great books below. A link to Amazon is also provided for your convenience.
The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen
This fun little book really packs a big punch. What I love about it is the practical advice—everyday things we can do that can make a difference. They couple that advice with the effect these acts will have on our environment. It is so much more than recycling your cans and turning off the lights. This book makes you look at every aspect of your life and ask, "What is the environmental impact here?" For instance, Rogers and Kostigen suggest that if just 1 in 20 dog owners who purchase dog beds chose one that is filled with recycled fiber, "...the fiber savings would total nearly 3,200 tons and fill four hundred garbage trucks." Sprinkled throughout the book, you will find real, often humorous accounts from celebrities on how they strive to live greener lives. Jennifer Aniston, Will Farrell, Elen Degeneres, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are just a few of the contributors. An outstanding resource, The Green Book gives us reason and hope. It also happens to be printed on 100% recycled paper. Order on Amazon. The Everything Green Living Book: Easy Ways to Conserve Energy, Protect Your Family's Health, and Help Save the Environment by Diane Gow McDilda.
And I do mean everything! From building a green home to eco friendly fabrics and fashions. You will get solid advice on products as well as simple green acts. This book is really for someone who is ready to embrace a green lifestyle and wants some direction. Everything Green Living does just that and more. Gow McDilda includes resources to help you get involved in projects locally and globally. I refer to this book often. It is a wonderful resource when I am trying to determine the greenest path or understand the impact of my purchases and action. Order on Amazon. |
online resources
Treehugger.com
TreeHugger is the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. They are a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information. This is one of my favorite go-to resources for my column and blog. They stay relevent and raise thought provoking questions. You can get your treehugger fix through the blog, daily newsletters, weekly radio interviews, Twitter and Facebook pages.Visit their site. Earth911.com
Earth911.com's Recycling Directory is the most accurate and comprehensive directory of its kind. Information for recycling over 240 different products is available free of charge on their website, toll-free and bilingual hotline (1-800 CLEANUP), and their free iPhone application (iRecycle). I have used them all, and they are very easy to navigate.. Earth911.com is how I discovered I could recycle my tinfoil where I live. You can search over 800,000 locations in their directory to find local recycling and disposal resources. Visit their site. Ecouterre.com
I love this site! I get a daily dose through their Facebook page and always click over to the website to see what new, cool things they have for me. Ecouterre is a site devoted to the future of sustainable fashion design. They are dedicated to showcasing and supporting designers who consider a garment’s social and environmental impact from conception to materials used to disposal. Their ethos: To follow the evolution of the apparel industry toward a more environmentally sound future, as well as facilitate a conversation about why sustainable fashion matters. Visit their site. FriendsofGlass.com
Another one of my favorites—but you could probably guess that from the name. I was so happy to find a group of people as passionate about glass as I am. The Friends of Glass site has great information on how glass improves our lives. Not only do they educate you on the ways glass affects your life, your health, and the environment, they also showcase people around the world and the cool, crafty and innovative ways they use and reuse glass. Visit their site. Care2.com
Care2.com is social networking with a purpose. If you are looking for a cause or have questions, this is a great place to start. Care2 provides powerful tools to make a difference in your life, your community, and the world. Their website is driven by passionate people who want to restore the world's balance. They pride themselves on being a different kind of company, and use the power of business to make a positive social and earth-friendly impact on the world. Visit their site. CraftingAGreenWorld.com
Crafting A Green World features crafting ideas for upcycling, and repurposing just about everything, They have great craft instructions from the very simple techniques to the advanced. I love to see the way other innovative green souls are turning trash into treasures. Visit their site. |
green janie (aka Jane Marks-Hastig) is a green-minded artist specializing in upcycling reclaimed glass.
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