Shopping Green...

Check out this article on eco-friendly clothing! Click here!

Yes there is such a thing. Surprising, I know.


However there is a rather ying/yang balance to this shopping. You can't have both worlds. Meaning you can't have hemp sweatshop free pants, at a cheap price. And you can't say that you were saving them from a landfill because they were made to be worn by you as the primary consumer. (Unless of course they were made out of post-consumer materials, if those even exist in fashion!)


There are two ways of going about eco-friendly shopping. And in a few short steps down whichever path you choose to follow your green heart can be filled with the joy of knowing that you are helping the planet even in a small way you may never have thought of.


Path 1) You can choose to shop eco-friendly by frequenting liquidation shops as well as consignment stores. I mean if you really think about it even Winners is a liquidation store that has just gained a lot of momentum from consumers purchasing their products. You often can find organic cotton as well as other fibers that are eco-friendly if you search. You just have to be willing to search thats the only catch!


Path 2) Shop at designated eco-friendly stores. They tend to be more expensive because they embody everything eco, right down to where they are made and how they are made. Stores like P'lovers often have to die for fabrics that wear forever you just have to be willing to pay the money to get the great products. One of my favourites is their organic cotton nightgowns!


Obviously shopping itself isnt the most eco-friendly activity in the world, however there are practical ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle :)

In the name of all things... green!

I suppose it would be best to start with the motivation behind this blog, since of course I'm a newbie and well... everyone has their own reason for a blog! 


First off, its a creative outlet. Having just finished my English degree at Western I a) needed something to do to fill my time till I have a "real job" and b) thought it would be cool to put my 12 weeks of suffering through Computer Science 1032 (first year course) to work since I did learn how to use html and publish a website! 


Furthermore, I think its important for people do get away from the over usage of Facebook for so called ranting. And blogs are a perfect place to do just that, as well as share information in more depth with people as opposed to sparking some huge debate on Facebook! 
(Of course this being said I'm not expecting to draw a huge crowd in maybe just pass on my advice to you who are reading these words!)


Ok, on with the show! 


My blog post for today is in the name of all things green, which has been the highlight of the past 3 weeks of my life since I currently am residing in the lovely Stratford Ontario home to my step-grandparents. 


They happen to live green, which to me is so wonderful since I myself have tuned into the green movement in hopes to encourage others to do the same and reduce my personal impact on our great green earth. 


It's actually a lot easier then one things it may be. Mind you I feel privileged to have grown up in a household that has always recycled, reduced, and reused. As well as planting our own vegetable garden, frequenting the local market, pumpkin picking, apple picking and all the wonderful local ways that one can lead a low carbon footprint life. 

However, last year some clicked for me. It wasn't until I didn't have access to a compost bin that I realize how important being green was to me. Then for Christmas my friend Lauren gave me a reusable bag. At the time I figured it would be great to have on me in case I needed it, but that was also before the charge was added to purchase plastic bags. Now my cute pink Bath & Body Works bag gets a weekly workout and I've added another to my collection (along with all the re-usable grocery bags we have stashed all over the car/house) made by Blue Avocado (http://www.blueavocado.com/)


The thing is, I though I was eco-savvy... till I came to live in Stratford for 3 weeks. My grandmother takes her own paper bags to the market, all laundry is hung on the line, they only have 1 car, take the train long distances if they can etc. etc. Its caused me to reflect on my own habits. Even something as simple as using a glass for water for a few days before putting it in the dishwasher reduces the amount of times electricity and water have to be used! It's a small thing but can make such a difference especially if you are one (like me) to have multiple cups of tea in a day. 


More on this later, but my parting though of the day is- recycling is one of the easiest forms of being green, so before you put it in the trash consider whether it can be recycled!