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I am excited to be writing for Tree Huggin' Tuesday today! I have been thinking a lot about Earth Day these past few days and how everyone is in such a different place as far as living green. I talk to some people who are doing a lot more than me and I talk to a lot of people who are just starting out. Wherever you are on your path is where you need to be, and like we say, just take things one small step at a time and we can move mountains with our efforts! Before I get started, I am excited to announce that today's post will also include a giveaway! Please read the post and look for details on the giveaway at the bottom!
~Suzy
For today's Tree Huggin' Tuesday I want to talk about one of the most important things we can do as individuals to make a difference. You may know that recycling is important and easy, or hanging your clothes to dry may be second nature to you, but think about those who don't realize this. Like I said, we are all in a different place on this path and it is crucial that we share information with family, friends, our kids, neighbors, anyone who will listen!
Sharing what we know with others will have a ripple effect and will encourage others to do things they never thought possible. Personally I never thought I would hang my clothes to dry...but through the encouragement of seasoned veterans, I am giving it a shot! I was so excited when my Mom, who is new to the "green" living, recently purchased some cloth napkins and reusable shopping bags. I like to think that my blog and my way of living influenced my mom to make these changes. 
You never know when someone is going to really get inspired by what you are doing! So talk about it! Blog about it! Flaunt it! Brag about it! You are doing amazing things, so be proud and spread the word!
**Now for the giveaway details!! We are giving away a hand painted Recycle Earth necklace. Wear this as a way to start a conversation on preserving our earth; hang it in your office to remind people to recycle; give it as a gift to your earth loving friend! To enter, leave a comment here and let us know about one small change you have made lately! The winner will be announced on Thursday April 8th!
Congratulations Danielle!!!
Congratulations Danielle!!!
Yay! Love the necklace, thanks for the chance to win it. I also love the idea of spreading the word "gently" with friends, so they don't get scared off thinking that they have to change everything all at once. I'm behind on my One Small Change posts, but we've been doing a lot of thinking on it lately and have a lot to say. More soon! Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts are so true. Everyone is in a different place and I feel it's our responsibility to help people make the smallest, most convenient changes to get them started. There are so many changes that can be made without altering your lifestyle. I've been talking to a lot of people lately who can fathom being "green" and are amazed at the people who do "so much." I point out that they didn't do all those things from day one -- it's one small change at a time!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful necklace! I love the idea of one small change and the ripple effect that can have and have definitely seen it in action. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteI've been encouraging my younger momma friends to go cloth- diapers and feminine pads- and to dry them on the line after using a nice, Earth friendly detergent like Bioclean. I have "converted" two mommies so far! Yay!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful necklace - great way to gently spread the word! I recently found some great unbleached wax paper bags to share with friends who always used plastic grocery bags for their wastecans. They love them and it erased the last excuse for using plastic!
ReplyDeleteYour One Small Change project has really inspired me lately... though I never officially joined we have been making some small strides. Lately we have been collecting our soda cans to recycle. We have started seeds to plan in a garden with the intention to have alot of extra to can, freeze and eat in season.
ReplyDeleteThat necklace is awesome! I would wear it around my neck everyday, since I love to share knowledge on how to be more green with others! The small change I made recently is I encourged others to bring a second hand or gently used gift to my daughters birthday party....saves on packaging and she enjoys used toys just as much as new ones!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for a way to start a conversation. I think this is great - for whoever wins it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great blog - lovin' the necklace! Small changes happening around here each week. The latest are kids' pjs from old sheets (already comfy and made to order!), art journals made from recycled cereal boxes, and Easter 'grass' made from shredded mail (colorful and recyclable).
ReplyDeleteI am loving the idea of one small change...or one change in general and the ripple effect you can cause.
ReplyDeletewe just switched to g diapers for our 4 month old instead of conventional disposables. after reading about the chemicals and gels that go into conventional diapers and how it takes hundreds of years for one diaper to biodegrade, we were ready for the change.
since we switched only two weeks ago two of my mama friends have been inquiring about it and are testing the waters themselves! i love to think that my family is starting a trend away from disposable diapers!
And in turn we are inspired to make small changes when we see others doing the same. Leading by example and learning by example to make the earth a healthier, happier place for our babies is one of the best things we can do as parents.
Thank you for your awesome blog and all the great info you provide. I just discovered you via mothering magazine and i check in often. keep up the great, inspirational work!
~Danielle M.
(mrs.dmercer@gmail.com)
Hi Suzy,
ReplyDeleteCool necklace! I made a resolution at the beginning of the year to add one "crunchy" habit each month (I didn't hear about the One Small Change thing until like last week, or I totally would have participated!).
In January I stopped using shampoo and started using baking soda instead on my hair, and switched to all natural bath & body products.
In February I started my garden and got back into using my cloth diapers.
In March I started using homemade dishwasher soap (that you posted the link to, thanks!).
For April we are going to eliminate the disposable diapers we've been using overnight and all of the other disposable items we use (although there aren't that many...).
You have an awesome blog, and a great way to get other people to make small changes- a lot of small changes can mean one big impact! :)
~Raeanne
Cool necklace!! We are trying to be more green in my house by using cloth napkins instead of paper towels, we already use cloth diapers and wipes for our daughter then the other day it dawned on me while I was setting the table, we are throwing alot of paper towels and napkins away and they usually don't even get that dirty, so now I am going to some local second hand shops to buy some for us to use!
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteWe have made such wonderful progress in our home from One Small Change, and have continued to make little changes in addition to our monthly "real" ones. This month we signed up for a CSA--I am so excited, but also we are transitioning to cloth napkins at dinner and I am holding out on turning on the air conditioner until we have to (it is Florida though, but I will do my best!).
Thanks!!
suzy, thank you for all the valuable and motivating information you provide on your blog, i just love it! although i am not officially participating in the "one small change" project, i still always have it on my mind when making decisions for my family.
ReplyDeleteThe little change i recently made was simply bringing a plate, bowl, fork, spoon, knife and mug to work...Before doing this, I would sit in meetings and watch my co-workers go through so many cups for their coffee and plates for their bagels, and i just couldn't keep doing it myself! so, now i come into meetings with my bright yellow sigg bottle, my chico state mug and my green and white polka dot bowl. Hopefully my example will encourage others too.
At home, we switched from paper towels to the reusable paper towels that trader joe's sells. they are washable and we get so many uses out of them-i haven't thrown one away yet, they just get softer with more use.
Also, for easter, i took my paper shredder and shredded up a couple old trader joe's paper bags (from when i forget my reusable ones..) to make grass for easter baskets.
i love reading everyone's changes! it gives me ideas for more that i can do. i think when the weather gets better, i'll start hanging my laundry too!
thanks!
jamie l.
jantoniad@yahoo.com
What a very cute necklace.
ReplyDeleteSome changes that we have made recently is switching to no shampoo, and we are soon goign to make reusable produce bags. Thanks for hosting the giveaway.
Briana
I've blogged about our March Small Change, but another one I'm working on is to eliminate buying any paper or throwaway ribbon for gift-wrapping. I've long been a 'bow-saver', but I've now built up quite a respectable cupboard-full of paper, gift bags, pretty bits of cloth, little boxes and fabric ribbon (all recycled from gifts and packages we've received), so I am not planning on ever buying gift-wrap supplies again. Instead of tape, I find yarn holds wrapped packages really well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this give-away!
Small changes reflect daily in how we are trying to raise our kids -- walking and biking places in town instead of driving; combining errands when we do drive; bringing our own bags (almost) every time we go into a store; buying in bulk (5# bags or larger) - brown rice, oats, lentils, pinto beans; recycling everything possible and re-using what we can.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the give-away!
Love the necklace and all it represents!
ReplyDeleteLove the necklace!
ReplyDeletePersonally I have quit buying paper towels. I didn't have a plan for what else I would do, we just ran out one day and I decided not to buy anymore. It's been a lot easier than I thought it would be.
I've also taken on planning green events & greening events & selling organic skin care so I can help other on their path to greenness :)
I love your blog and all of the ideas it inspires. So far we've stopped using Ziploc/Glad bags and have reusable sandwich/snack bags instead. We live in an apartment but I'm working on rigging up a line so I can line dry at least part of our laundry...I don't know if there is enough room for me to keep up with line drying it all..we shall see! We've been bringing our own bags when shopping for a long time now, I rarely forget those! My next step is cloth napkins...I'm off tomorrow to thrift up some good ones or find some fabric to repurpose into cloth napkins!! Thanks for the inspiration and for hosting the giveaway!
ReplyDelete