Let’s get this party started!
Earth Day (Month) is here and Eco-Office Gals wants to get as many people as possible on board to grow a little greener. If you’ve been wanting to, trying to, thinking about growing a little greener there’s no better time to do it then now! We don’t want to make you go it alone either. We have once again reached out to our great green cyberspace friends to bring you green products to Green Your World!
The past 2 years of Eco-Office Gals Green My World Giveaway were a HUGE hit and we will give it a go again!!
So, let’s get things started. We’ll give you a chance to check out a few of the initial sponsors and a peek at the prizes coming in, look around their sites and get your creative green juices flowing. So, lets get started!
Welcome all our Earth Day Giveaway Sponsors for 2011 and their generous donations to Green Your World (I will be adding to the list as sponsors come in!):
- Infinite Future, LLC – Six hours of Sustainable Consulting Time (Value – $900)
- Naturally Good Soaps – $75.00 Gift Certificate
- Green Market Girl – $45.00 Gift Certificate
- Naked Binder – Set of 4 Naked Binder Project Binders, Assorted colors, 1.5″ d-ring Roundbacks ($30 Value)
- GlassDharma – eGift Certificate $25.00
- Safer Brand – 1 bottle of 3-in-1 1 bottle of EndALL 1 bottle of Weed & Grass Killer 1 bottle of Oxygen Plus 1 bottle of Tomato and Vegetable Insect Killer ($50 Value)
- Ecologic Brands – One Year of Seventh Generation 4X Detergent ($200+ Value)
- HTG Paper Company – 10 Reams of HTG 100% Wood Free Multi Purpose Paper Letter Size ($64.99 Value)
- ElyOrganics.com – $25.00 eGift Certificate
- Soaps by Nature – Handcrafted Lip Balm Sampler ($17 Value)
- The GrapeSeed Company – Wine Bar & Butter Gift Set ($22 Value)
This list is growing by the day sooo… here’s the deal, one person will win it ALL! Put your green recycled thinking caps on since you will need to do a little work! You need to green up your act! Absolutely, no “Thanks for the great giveaway” comments, they WILL be deleted. DO NOT copy and paste someone’s comment as your own, be original. You can enter as many times as you’d like as long as you follow one of the options below. For shipping purposes – US residents only, please. Contest will end April 22nd Earth Day, at 12 noon (EST). One winner will be picked to win the whole thing! This will not be a random drawing, rather the person that really seems to put some effort towards making a difference in their life will be given the chance to make their changes with these great products!
- First & Mandatory! Pick a green step that will help the environment. Something new, that you are not already doing. Leave a comment about it, or if you post about it on your own blog, provide a link in your comment so we can check it out!
- Leave a comment about any progress and achievements in your green goals, too. Let us know how it’s going!
- Leave a unique tip to be green, chemical free, etc
- Visit the sponsors and let us know how one of their products could help your green up your act. Leave a link to the product so we can all check it out.
- Send out a tweet about the giveaway & consider using the #earthtweet hashtag – be sure to include a link to it.
- Use other Social Networking avenues to get the word out about the giveaway and let us know which ones you did.
Add the giveaway button to your sidebar and let us know you did. Here’s the code:
<a href=”http://eco-officegals.com/2011/04/04/3rd-annual-gmw-earth-day-giveaway-2011/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://eco-officegals.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/earthday.png” border=”0″ alt=”Green My World”></a>
- Think a product is so awesome on one of our sponsors sites, you can’t wait to win before you buy? Leave 5 separate entries telling us what you bought from who — we will confirm.
Be sure to sign up for Eco-Office Gals RSS by feed or email. I’ll be continuing to bring you information, tips and events from our sponsors and may just throw in a few extra ways to enter as we go along!
WE HAVE A WINNER!
This is never an easy decision, some of you have been leaving some great tips, sharing wonderful green efforts, and sharing the giveaway with all your might! Sometimes it may be easier to just pick a random winner, but this gives others great ideas and encourages us all to be friendly to the earth.
As in years past one of you has risen above the others, has taken the effort to share your green steps and promote the giveaway just a little bit more. GreenEcoChick really seems to be making some great green efforts currently and is looking forward to new green changes in her future. She also took the time to share the giveaway consistently. All the way around she shone through the greenest! I hope you enjoy making your world even more greener with these great prizes! Congrats!!
I am going to use less bottled water and more reusable mugs.
Celeste F Wills
cmacaran44@gmail.com
This giveaway was tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/61315843073638400
Kelley L posted your link on facebook too.
My unique tip: gross as it may be try not to flush the toilet every single time you go.
My green goal is to start composting. I am going to buy the stuff this weekend to get started.
We’re making progress on our green goals. We’ve changed our bulbs to compact fluorescent and LEDs and installed energy stay appliances to replace old ones
we are going to start composting, today is earth day so we will start our pile today
susansmoaks at gmail dot com
This year I want to buy a basket for my bike and use it to do most of my errands around town.
My tip for being chemical free is using essential oils instead of perfume.
nancymeyer1 at gmail dot com
I am going to switch to ecofriendly cat litter.
nancymeyer1 at gmail dot com
I’ve planted herbs in pots on my balcony and use them in my cooking. Now I am plan to become involved in a community garden.
I plan to use a water filter and ditch bottled water. honeypie411 at yahoo dot com
I really would like to plant my own garden for fruits and vegetables and recycle more. Thanks for the contest! codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
My first green step is trying to sell my Chevy Suburban! calvad at aol dot com
A step I could do is change my light bulbs to the more efficient type! I always have some lights on, and that could be one step closer to becoming a greener place. 🙂
Jkssweeps@gmail.com
HTG Paper Company’s Wood Free Office Paper would help me be green when I print out tons of forms for work.
http://www.hellotogreen.com/officepaper.html
I use straws, plastic ones, for nearly everything I drink. It helps your teeth in some cases. To be green, I should use a glass straw and ditch the plastic ones! Glass Dharma, one of the sponsors, has beautiful glass straws!
dchrisg3 @ gmail . com
The “paperless” green step is one that I have not yet fully conquered. I have to. I spent an hour organizing, sorting, destroying etc. a drawer of bills, statements etc. that had collected. While I do pay bills online, what I need to do is go to each establishment and sign up for paperless statements or bills so that they don’t send me these things in the mail.
And here’s a unique tip for being chemical free. I’m bad about planning ahead for meals, so I depend on canned beans, which contain BPA and use more packaging than dried. My mom just taught me that I can cook a big pot of beans, freeze them into small portions, and keep cooked, ready-to-use beans in the freezer. No BPA! The freezer is actually a great choice for preserving foods without the chemicals or a canning system, and it’s actually more energy efficient if you keep it relatively full.
Hmm…a unique tip to be green. Cut up old towels and worn out sheets to make your own cloth pads; they absorb more than disposables, don’t contain plastic or toxic chemicals, last forever, and are actually very comfortable. I had to get over the initial ick factor, but for women who use cloth diapers on their babies, cloth pads should be no problem at all.
Some of my green goals this year have been to cut down on dairy (I’m a vegetarian inching closer to veganism for environmental reasons) and to be more conscious about how I use resources. The dairy has been fairly easy; I make homemade almond milk, which tastes wonderful and substitutes well, and save cheese for special occasions.
The consciousness has always been a much bigger and far-reaching goal. It started with the idea that I didn’t want anything that wasn’t either useful or beautiful (typically handmade) in my house, even if it was ‘green.’ Then I started considering the two sides of anything we buy: how it was made, and how I will dispose of it. I definitely don’t always succeed in making the most environmentally friendly choice, but I’m at least aware that my actions are a vote for or against the sustainability of the planet. I’d like to think that as I learn more about the impact of my actions, I’ll continue to make better choices.
At the end of May, I will be starting a job in an office that is literally two minutes from the nearest train station. Although getting to the train station on my end may be just a little tricky, I am seriously considering giving up my car. Having my own car has been one of my green roadblocks for a long time, but I’m starting to realize that work is the only thing I really need it for. Otherwise my spouse and I could easily be a one car household. I’m going to try it for a few months, and if I notice that I can get by perfectly well without the car, it will be time to say goodbye.
I’m following (@LivingGreenOR) all of the following sponsors: @GreenMarketGirl @nakedbinder @saferbrand @hellotogreen @grapeseedco
I’ve also retweeted and am following:
@infinitellc http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/60825158318948353
@ecologicbrands http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/60825088001454081
@soapsbynature http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/60825020531875840
@erinely http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/60824892660121600
@GlassDharma http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/60824807767412736
@natgoodsoaps http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/60824673222541312
I use natural light so that I can reduce using electricity! I take advantage of natural light and keep the blinds open as much as I can. I also position furniture and mirrors so that I can have the most light with the least amount of energy used!
I have had some progress in my green goals! I have been able to reduce paper use by being sure to sign up for all online bills, call to cancel magazines and junk mail I do not use but receive and by using both sides of paper instead of one! Any tree I can save is a gift to the Earth!
A unique tip in my family to be chemical free is I use apple cider vinegar for cleaning! I add some water and use it on my floors, counters, and even to get rid of bugs and ants!!!
Something that I am going to do to be more green is to Reuse. I will reuse all sorts of things laying around my house and redo it to make it new. Instead of throwing away a mirror that I am tired of looking at I can add a funky, fresh coat of spray paint to it. That ugly lamp shade I am tired of? Why not buy a whimsical new fabric and some fabric glue and Wa-LA! brand new lamp. I can do the same with vases or even buy some consignment furniture and resurface it. I would love to do my part to make this Earth an even more beautiful place for my children and future generations!
Thanks!
melindasuegordon at gmail dot com
Our tip for being chemical free: make your own cleaners. It’s simple, inexpensive, and most pre-made things contain tons of toxic ingredients.
Also, take all of your vegetable scraps and freeze them to make stock. It’s a great use for something that would otherwise get tossed out.
Our goal with our little one is to use as many reusable things as possible. So far, we’ve avoided any disposable or pre-packaged goods (diapers, baby food, etc.). We’ve also been able to get almost everything used (so it’s being reused!).
We’re going to start growing more of our own food (a step up from the herbs we’ve been growing).
Just moved closer to work, so I am starting to walk to work – better for my waistline, pocket book (gas is out of control!), and the planet. win, win, win!
I am going to start composting.
We’ve taken out over 2000 sqft of lawn and turned it into a habitat garden. Last Earth Day we got certified as a wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Federation- and we’ve continued to expand this garden every chance we get! By doing this we’ve inspired a lot of our neighbors to do the same! One garden at a time!
Hi there! This has been tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/59866303208497152
i like you on facebook
i use reusealbe shopping bads
i clean up the alley behind my house
This was tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/59141510561665024
This was tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/58779132321996800
Continue to support Earth Day and help HostPapa reach their goal of planting 10,000 trees! Simple click like http://www.facebook.com/HostPapa and enter for your chance to WIN a $500 gift card.
I’ve done two things new this year – first, I organized a battery pickup at my school, so I can recycle used batteries (we use a lot of them in our calculators!) at our city electronic recycling event. Second, I took the quiz on the practically green website, and based on their advice, I started changing out my powerstrips for eco-friendly powerstrips that stop trickle charge from occurring on most of my appliances, computers, etc. One of my new powerstrips even comes with a remote! I can turn on the whole strip from across the room (to watch tv, etc.).
I started picking up trash the beginning of March for a 4 mile area where I live. I do this every day (unless it’s raining). It’s amazing all the junk I end up picking up almost daily and the amount of trash there is. I wish people cared more about putting something in their vehicles to put their trash in instead of using the roads as their garbage dump.
I shared this via Digg and Stumble 🙂
My family has decided to add more edible plants to our flower beds instead of planting pretty shrubs we have decided to use our space more wisely and reap the benefits of clean air as well as organic produce to eat. Now we do have a garden but it can only be so big so planting edibles in our flower beds will be great. We are also slowly starting to phase out plastics in our lives as well by buying handmade wood toys, reusable waterbottles, making homemade reusable sandwich bags, our next child will be cloth diapered as well. Being green is not some horrible thing you have to do it actually can be fun and exciting too!
I own a lot of jewelry but I’m ashamed to say none of it is eco friendly 🙁 Owning a cuff from Green Market Girl (http://www.greenmarketgirl.com/products/category/3/eco-cuffs) would help me make my jewelry a little more sustainable and make me feel better about my jewelry choices.
A unique tip to be green: I recently ran out of eye makeup remover. In an attempt to be frugal and more green/eco-friendly, I turned to some coconut oil I had. It worked GREAT! I now keep some in a small mason jar in the bathroom. I’ll never another container of eye makeup remover again – and I’ll never have another container to throw away! Coconut Oil has SO many purchases, I buy it in bulk!
Green tip: Buy netted veggie bags for the grocery store instead of using the throwaway plastic ones.
I was able to reduce our household trash from one 32 gallon can of trash per WEEK down to one 20 gallon can of garbage per MONTH. It was through recycling more and going beyond curbside recycling, composting, and purchasing items that required less packaging (less packaging = less waste = less $$). I’m very happy with meeting this goal and all the money we’re saving!
I decided that I’d keep a recipe book for my grandson, so he’d have all the recipes he loves when he grows up and goes out on his own. I’ve been thinking about putting them in a three ring binder. I like the Naked Binder from (who else?) Naked Binder. It’s made of recycled material, is strong enough to last, and at the end of its useful life it can be recycled again.
Stop using fabric softner; instead, use 1/2 cup white vinegar in the rinse. Our clothes come out soft every time and there is no vinegar smell.
I’m pretty proud of our achievement in saving energy by not using a clothes dryer at all, ever. Except on the worst days of the winter, I wait for clear days and hang our laundry outside on the line. When it won’t go above freezing for a week, I just hang clothes in the guest bedroom in the house. I actually look forward to doing the laundry now, instead of dreading it like I always did. It’s a win/win.
We’ve been limiting our driving a lot, and walking into town for easy errands. Next on our list is to start bicycling for more complex errands, using backpacks and a bike basket on my bike to hold things.
My new green step will be to reuse plastic baggies by washing them and turning them inside out to dry!
madamerkf at aol dot com
I’ve tweeted about this: http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/55432659131838464
I’ve shared this on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LivingGreenOR/status/55432659131838464
I’m getting married this summer and I plan on starting a wedding lending library of goods leftover from our wedding. Linens, cloth napkins, vintage/mis-matched dishes, platters, etc. Anything that I’ve purchased I’m donating (instead of selling) so that other brides can have a frugal wedding, save some money, help the environment and build a sense of community. I’m working with a local organization who will house the goods and I’m hoping word will spread so others will do the same thing. So many wedding items are only used once, why not make them available for others – free of charge!
Will move from more of a junk food vegan to a whole foods vegan!
I only recycle aluminum cans, but I can start doing the plastic and other containers too.
This is my standard “green” solution for keeping your local neighborhood furry creatures away from nibbling on vegetables & fruit in your home garden:
Combine 1 gallon of water, 1 cap full of Murphy’s Oil Soap and 1/4 cup of a potent hot sauce. Mix up and store in a reusable container. To apply to vegetables and plants, use a small spray bottle and lightly spray your veggies. Apply every couple of weeks and especially after any long rainy periods (it’ll wash right off!).
Make sure you wash your food before eating! It’s natural and harmless, but it tastes *terrible* – critters hate it and they’ll stay away.
I’ve made the pledge this year to go not only organic with my fruits & vegetables, but also during growing season, I’m going to exclusively buy produce from the local Farmer’s Market and my CSA to support the farming community. I also want to finally get all the harsh chemicals out of the house and am slowly replacing every single item from the toiletries to cleaners with environmentally friendly brands.
Tweeted it! http://twitter.com/SeedsofGreen
First and foremost I am looking for a job closer to home or one where I can telecommute, this will greatly reduce my impact on the planet. I wanted to start a garden last year but was unable to because of time commitments. I finally took the plunge and bought some stuff to get started. I am going all organic with the vegetables and I refuse to used the common weed killers. I also have been very choosy about what plants and seeds I will buy because there are certain companies I do not want to support (after all, each dollar is just like casting a vote for which companies we support!). I also started a green/health blog recently because I feel that helping to start a conversation with others and helping to get the word out about things is beneficial to the cause.
First and foremost I am looking for a job closer to home or one where I can telecommute, this will greatly reduce my impact on the planet. I wanted to start a garden last year but was unable to because of time commitments. I finally took the plunge and bought some stuff to get started. I am going all organic with the vegetables and I refuse to used the common weed killers. I also have been very choosy about what plants and seeds I will buy because there are certain companies I do not want to support (after all, each dollar is just like casting a vote for which companies we support!). I also started a green/health blog recently because I feel that helping to start a conversation with others and helping to get the word out about things is beneficial to the cause.
I shared the giveaway on my facebook site and left a comment.
I Liked Eco Office Gals of Facebook.
A unique way to be to be more green Is that I use candles for light at night vs overhead lights and lamps. The Soy candles also smell great and can be relaxing if you get the lavendar sent.
For my green goals, I am going to try again this yr to do an organic garden. I have been throwing my fruit and veggie scraps and peelings, coffee grounds, egg shells in my garden area to get good healthy soil and to help prevent using chemical fertilizers. I did this last yr but got a plight half way thru the growing season and therefore were unfit to eat. I am going to do more research to find how to avoid that and be more successful this yr!
I will let my dishes drip dry/air dry vs letting the dishwasher do it all the time and also take out some of my clothes out of dryer and hang to dry; to save on electricity. Also want to start mixing lavender oil with water to use as a spray disinfectant to clean my counter tops.
I Let my dishes drip dry in the dishwasher to save electricity.