that GREEN blog

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today encouraged consumers to visit their local farmers markets in honor of
National Farmers Market Week, which will take place from August 2-8.

“One of the Obama Administration’ s top priorities is to make sure that all Americans – especially children – have access to fresh, nutritious food, and USDA’s ongoing support of farmers markets is important to
reaching that goal,” Secretary Vilsack said. “At the same time, farmers markets help support small family farms, help revitalize rural communities, and often promote sustainable agricultural practices.”

Currently, nearly 4,900 farmers markets operate nationwide, up from 4,685 in 2008. To make it easier for consumers to locate farmers markets in their states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’ s Agricultural
Marketing Service posts The National Directory of Farmers Markets online at www.ams.usda. gov/farmersmarkets
<http://www.ams. usda.gov/ farmersmarkets>.

[Note: their information is very outdated; for a better listing, see Local Harvest's listing
at: http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/list.jsp.]

USDA is a leader in government efforts to encourage healthier eating, has operated a farmers market at its Washington, D.C., headquarters since 1996. Open to the general public every Friday, June through  October, as many as 14 farmer-vendors set up stands that feature their locally produced items.

USDA supports farmers markets through several programs in addition to National Farmers Market Week. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awards grants, provides technical assistance, and helps with marketing and promotion. Meanwhile, the Food and Nutrition Service also supports farmers markets through the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program by providing coupons that many low-income Americans can exchange for eligible foods at farmers markets and similar outlets.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call
(800) 795-3272(voice) , or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

It’s much, much later than you think…

This film starts out a bit slow. The volume was not good for me on three different computers, but the content is something that you’ll want to hear. It is a green “call to arms” but it is positive, alarming, but empowering. Watch it. Share it. Wake Up, Freak Out – then Get a Grip

Tipping point ahead.This really isn’t about polar bears any more. At this very moment, the fate of civilization itself hangs in the balance.

Wake Up, Freak Out – then Get a Grip from Leo Murray on Vimeo.

A responsible way to reuse and recycle?
According to the EPA, Americans retired 130 million cell phones in 2005. 98% of them went straight into the trash, then landfill.

Gazell provides a practical, rewarding way for people to finally rid themselves of all those old cell phones, digital cameras, and gaming systems that they no longer use, but can’t seem to find a way to let go of.. I haven’t tried it yet, but I intend to.  They have a real time feed of what people were just paid for electronics and some of them are not that new. If they purchase your used electronic and it has no market value this is what their website claims…

What Does Gazelle Do With My Used Electronics?
Gazelle believes that electronics recycling starts with reuse. After we buy electronics and gadgets, we evaluate their condition. When we receive items that are still in working condition, we extend their lives by removing all personal data from them, and selling the electronics through a variety of retail and wholesale outlets. Items without market value are recycled responsibly.

Buy and Sell Used Electronics It’s good to Gazelle.

Giving a helping hand at educating the public with “Guides to Green” our friends are members of Coop America a great source of all things green. You’ve heard us say it over and over, we know. At this website practical tips for everyday green living are fun, easy and save you money!

They have a great list of 20 Quick Tips on How to “GREEN” Your Business and a Billion Bag Bottle and Bulb Challenge! You should read and check out. Join the fun!

Greg Wrote:

A little post election humor and a request for support for our friends at Your Guide to Green…

Can we put environmentally safe and healthy drinking bottles in the hands of more people?

…YES WE CAN !!!

Can we stop filling our landfills with harmful plastic which will not decompose in our lifetime?

…YES WE CAN !!!

Can we reach out and make these bottles more accessible to all who want them?

…YES WE CAN !!!

In Tandem with the latest “economic stimulus plan” and for a limited time only, the retail price of their best selling stainless steel water bottles has been slashed to an unheard of $14.99 for TWO.  They also have a wide variety of other great green lifestyle products at incredible prices for your holiday gift giving.

Greg Peterson’s personal mission is to

“Inspire people into their own greenness” with the work that I do with the Urban Farm and YourGuideToGreen.com.”

This is what he says you can do to help.

Please take this opportunity to patronize Your Guide To Green’s store for your holiday gift giving or visit with me at our annual sidewalk sale this Friday.  By shopping with us you will be supporting our local business and the great green work that we do in the world.  And as an added bonus for you we have crafted some extraordinary deals on our products plus we are offering local pickup and affordable shipping rates.  As always I really appreciate your support.

So go buy some great GREEN stuff from this great GREEN store already!

Buy Nothing Day Confronts the Economic Meltdown

Friday, November 28 North America
Saturday, November 29 (International)

As we run out of money, resources and wilderness, and the planet keeps heating up, maybe it’s time to confront the root cause of our global crisis: overconsumption by the most affluent one billion people of the world. On November 28 why not confront your own consumption by going on a consumer fast for 24 hours? Like the millions of people who have done this fast before you, you may be rewarded with a life-changing epiphany.

If you’re already an experienced Buy Nothing Day celebrant, check out the action pyramid at http://adbusters. org/bnd for more Buy Nothing Day ideas and take the BND message to the streets. There is also a  link to the events wiki there.