February 24th, 2009
So if you are like me, most things green come easy to you. It’s not so hard right? However I bet there are some things green that might suprise even the most earth friendly among us. I was pleasantly suprised when I came across these two books.
The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time
By Elizabeth Rogers
The way this book is laid out is really unique and easy to follow. Different categories are lumped together throughout the book. She even has suggestions on how to green up your paper napkin addiction. The book does a good job of putting our consumption rates in to easily understandable and frightening statistics. There are even stories from a few celebrities about what they are doing to help our Earth (does anyone else have trouble believing that Jennifer Aniston takes only 3 minute showers?)
Another great bookI have read recently is It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living by Crissy Trask
The title of the book is pretty self explanatory, but this one even features a checklist for all different aspects of green living. You can rate your self and see simple ways you can green it up!
I know Oprah usually has more than two books on her list, but I will keep my eyes open for other good reads. Until then, happy reading!
Peace, love, go green!
February 5th, 2009
Local Merchants Go Green for Wedding Days
Bloomington-Seven area businesses are combining forces to offer couples an earth-friendly wedding day. Led by Twisted Limb Paperworks, the group provides solid options for those wanting to conserve natural resources and lessen the big day’s environmental impact.
The partnership which began last year has expanded to offer families even more green wedding options in 2009. This includes: 100% recycled invitations, organic flowers, vegan and organic cakes and candies, local produce and meat without hormones or pesticides, sustainable fabric wedding dresses and alterations on vintage dresses, all natural make-up and hair treatments, and eco-conscious event planning.
The group consists of well-known local downtown merchants and farm market vendors and a mix between businesses that are known exclusively for being green and ones that have been adding more eco-friendly options in recent years. Participants this year include:
- Les Champs Elysees Day Spa and Salon, natural, organic and sustainably harvested Aveda products
- BLU Chocolate Café and Cakery, vegan and organic cakes with many locally sourced ingredients
- Harvest Moon Flower Farm, over 100 varieties of organically grown flowers
- Feast, formerly Harvest Lodge Catering, artistic gourmet food with local and organic focus
- Twisted Limb Paperworks, sustainably created handmade 100% recycled invitations
- The Studio, Beky Makris, sustainable dress &reception linen fabrics &vintage dress alterations
- Blooming Branch Green Events, full service event planning with eco-conscious focus
Sheryl Woodhouse-Keese of Twisted Limb Paperworks gathered the group of business owners together both as a resource for local couples interested in green weddings and also to encourage other local merchants to provide Earth-friendly options, helping environmentally minded customers to keep their business local instead of heading to the web. Customers who choose to work with at least four of green vendors will receive a free gift from each vendor they work with as a way of saying thank you for staying local and considering the environment when planning their special day.
There are many ways couples can choose to go green on their wedding day—choosing antique rings, recycling and composting at the reception, forgoing favors in lieu of donating to a favorite charity, and offsetting their guests’ travel with renewable energy investments. Working with local eco-friendly vendors is an ideal way to go light on the earth, reducing the fossil fuels used in transporting the otherwise responsible green goods.
Couples can learn more about the green wedding package by visiting Twisted Limb Paperworks or BLU Boy Chocolate Café and Cakery at the Bloomington Bridal Show on Sunday, February 8th from Noon to 5 p.m. at the Bloomington Convention Center. Green Wedding Package brochures are also available downtown at BLU, Les Champs Elysees, and The Studio, and from Harvest Moon Flower Farm and Feast at the Bloomington Farmer’s Market.
