Category Archives: eco holidays

Honoring your mother in an eco way

This Sunday is Mother’s Day in the U.S. and, chances are, some of you Eco Warriors will be spending some time with your own mothers. Or, perhaps you are a spouse/significant other helping your children get their gifts ready for their mothers. The Eco Women are here to help.

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Environmental Education 101: How to Train a New Generation of Eco-Activists

This topic is near and dear to Enviro Girl’s heart, especially as we celebrate Earth Day this Sunday.  All the great superheroes train up a new generation of crime-fighting warriors.  The same must be true for those on the environmental front:  we have an obligation to teach our children how to protect the planet and its resources and we have to explain why it’s an important value.   In Enviro Girl’s mind, this boils down to a short list of 3 easy things we can do as parents and teachers: Continue reading

Teach Our Children Well Part II

After realizing that she was not talking the talk as efficiently as walking the walk around her children, Enviro Girl knew she had to make more of an effort to connect the dots through discussion.  Not in a preachy, pedantic way, mind you, but in a casual, “hey, look at this pile of food waste we’re carrying to our compost pile!  That’s a LOT of waste we’re diverting from the landfill!” kind of way. Continue reading

Naturally Dyeing Easter Eggs

For years Enviro Girl bought those egg-dye kits with the little colored tablets, but a few Easters ago she decided to skip it and try a more natural approach.  This tip saves money and resources, as you can dye Easter eggs with things you already have in your kitchen. Continue reading

The eco Easter basket

Recycla knows that most of you are probably still focused on the fact that it’s only mid-March — and that St. Patrick’s Day is this weekend — but for those folks with children, you might want to be aware that Easter is a little over three weeks away. If you’re thinking that the Easter Bunny is going to stop by your house and fill a basket or two, it’s time to do a little planning.

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Flowers for your Valentine

As you know, Valentine’s Day is next week. Are you buying flowers for anyone special? If so, how about buying him/her organic flowers?

Why? Because the majority of cut flowers are grown in Latin America and equatorial Africa in an industry in which the employees (mostly women) work for low wages and without benefits. When the holidays roll around and flowers are in demand, the workers are required to labor overtime.

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Sustainable Love

The Green Queen hates to throw anything away. She’s always thinking, “how can I reuse, recycle or repurpose this?” And even when it comes to a worn out swimsuit or two, she doesn’t want to throw them in the trash.

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Be My Valentine: Chocolate for Eco Warriors

With Valentine’s Day approaching, you’re probably thinking about what to get your True Love (or yourself.)

Today, Recycla is here to talk about CHOCOLATE.

Chocolate is a big part of Valentine’s Day and for good reason.  This product of the cocoa bean has been revered for centuries for its aphrodisiac qualities.  And isn’t love what Valentine’s Day is all about?

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Love Me Green on Valentine’s Day: A Message for Men

The pressure began after Christmas–the commercials urging men to buy their loved ones diamonds, jewelry, stuffed animals with cute sayings embroidered on red satin hearts.  Enviro Girl appreciates the sentiment behind Valentine’s Day, but she’s hoping for a token of affection that she doesn’t have to dust.  In short, love her, baby, but love her with less stuff.  Here’s a short list of Valentine’s Day gifts that would make any red-blooded woman feel weak in the knees: Continue reading

Giving Greener & Healthier Classroom Valentine’s Day Treats

Anyone with children understands that Valentine’s Day is really about the treats, not the declarations of affection.  When Enviro Girl was young, she always made a “mailbox” out of an old shoebox covered in glitter and paper doilies to set on her desk.  Each child would bring in paper cards to deliver to each of their classmates.  Enviro Girl recalls carefully choosing exactly the right Valentine for each of her classmates out of the box her mother bought at the dime store.   Occasionally someone would pass out tiny boxes of conversation hearts.  Times have definitely changed.  Fast forward to today’s school children.  Enviro Girl’s tribe comes home from school and DUMPS their bags out, covering the carpet with tiny cards and a heaping pile of treats.   Her sons bring home as much candy on Valentine’s Day as they do on Halloween!  Is there a way to make this holiday a bit healthier, a little bit greener, but still fun? Continue reading