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Green Tip: Reusing Dog Food Bags

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Repurposing a dog food bag as a trash bag

Product provided.

People think of “Going green” as a new trend, but talk to any person who lived through the Great Depression and they’ll tell you that “Waste Not, Want Not” has always been their mantra. Reducing waste and repurposing old items is the foundation of an eco-friendly lifestyle, after all!

When I was at my Grandma’s house last weekend, I noticed yet another ingenious thing she does to reduce waste. As I’ve mentioned, we receive shipments from Just Right by Purina every month for the family dog, Bob, which features the most adorable custom dog food bags. While Grammy has saved a couple of these as keepsakes, she goes through many of them every month. That’s why I thought it was so smart when I walked into her pantry and noticed a small pile of flattened, empty bags next to the dog food supply. Why? Because these bags are the perfect size for her kitchen trash can, so she uses them as a trash bag before throwing them away. What an easy way to reduce waste!

Of course, Bob is always very happy every time these bags are emptied, because it means his favorite food is going into his bowl!

Dinner time

Have you picked up any “Green” tips from your grandparents?

Our family is going Purple, not Green

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Well, my husband says we should go purple because it is my daughter’s favorite color. So anyways, the posh word is going green. I’m not sure I’m so into going green, or at least not completely. I love the idea of having Eco friendly reusable bags. Especially the ones that my MOMS club like to use, they are cute and even have kid designs and they fold up so tiny. I also understand changing out your appliances for more efficient ones. You’ll save on Electricity, but what happens to the old one. So it gets donated, well then someone else isn’t being green. Am I missing something, it seems to me there would be more trash. I must not know enough about going green I guess. I recycle. I recycle everything I can. I grew up in a state where I learned about recycling in school. In Washington, we recycle like everything. We have curbside pick up for recycling. My step dad used to recycle for money. I think my family in Texas should start recycling. My dad said they get or are going to get curbside recycling soon, but I bet they don’t use it. I don’t want anyone to think I’m against going green. I’m not, I just think that this push is a push to put more money into the economy. Now is a good time to buy stuff because sales are so big. I know I’m a little on the cynical side. I just feel we should do everything we can within our budget and with what we have. Buy natural, recyclable products. Have a garden if you can, we don’t get enough sun. I think I’m rambling. Ugg. Well, if withing the rambling you can make sense out of it. I’m interested in what other people thing about “going green”

The Seattle Green Festival

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This was a lot of fun and I am so glad I had the opportunity to go. We were able to sample some really great products and get some great bargain. I purchased clothing for my children and I will be posting pictures and reviews later. They are absolutely adorable. We also received some samples and made a lot of contacts. I didn’t want to bore my daughter by sitting through any of the lectures, but I’m sure they were very informative.

Everyone was so kind and it seemed to be very organized.

There were a few Hippy booths. My sister likes to call them Hippies. They were dressed like hippies and their products were very brightly colored. Although, they weren’t tie died and that’s what I think of when I think hippie. My sister’s definition of hippy, healthy, nutty, crazy, healthy. It’s a very broad term for her. I could always tell when we were close to a food booth because it was very difficult to move and my daughter would clutch my hand a bit harder.

We sampled chocolate and learned that there is a factory in Seattle we can tour. I’m going to have to make sure my moms know about it so we can schedule a visit.

Most of the booths we looked at were organic clothing, or products made in Africa, or other foreign countries. It was refreshing to come across some booths that their entire product line was made in the USA. Although, I will tell you, I have nothing against companies that are foreign. You know, Subaru is a Japanese company, and they get parts made here in the USA. My dad works at a plant that makes parts to ship to Japan. So please don’t be against all companies made in other countries.

My daughter made some friends, well, if you notice I think she actually got scared at the end of the video. But she was brave to walk away from mom. I look forward to posting all of the material I have gathered, I’m just too tired to organize any of it right now.

Please Enjoy!

Green Festival In Seattle

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So this weekend I was thinking about going to the Green Festival in Seattle. I also have a parade I’m supposed to be in. My kids will enjoy both. They absolutely love to go out. In fact whenever we’re all having a bad day we just leave and go out. Then we all have fun and come home with smiles on our faces.

I think that the Green Festival will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn more about being green. I think in addition to all of my other posts and giveaways I’m going to try and write about something green, organic, or natural every day until Earth Day. My husband laughed at me the other day and said that If I just read your blog, I would have no idea who you are. I do write about a lot of different things and I am pretty easy to please. I do worry about the environment and the energy crisis I just don’t voice it. I’m not an activist unless it’s about giving to charity. I’m still not even that active. I recycle, but I live in the part of the country where they will fine you for not recycling.

Another thing my husband has taught me is that even recycling uses up resources. So thinking that you are green just because you recycle isn’t very accurate anymore. So we need to reduce, reuse and then recycle. dannyglover

I was looking at all of the different companies that are going to be at the festival. There are so many. I had no idea there were so many different green companies. Oh and I was looking at the Keynote speakers and Danny Glover is going to be there. He is awesome. I would probably recognize more of the keynote speakers if I was more informed on being green. So I plan to learn a lot. But after our parade. 😉

Here is the press release for the Green Festival:

SEATTLE HOSTS GREEN FESTIVAL FOR SECOND YEAR

Nation’s Largest Green Consumer Event Returns to Leading City in Sustainability

As Our Economy Transitions, Political Interest in the Environment Increases and Numbers of Green Consumers Grow, Green Festival Stands Out as a Vital Resource

March 28 & 29, 2009

Seattle, WA (March 2009): Green Festival, the fastest growing green consumer event in the country, returns to Seattle for the second year on March 28 & 29, 2009. The Washington State Convention and Trade Center provides the space for the festival to take its platform and bring the most cutting-edge people, ideas, and organizations on the green scene to Seattle residents and the surrounding community. Co-hosted by the city of Seattle, the 2009 Green Festival will introduce sustainable options for a transitioning economy, growing consumer consciousness, and evolving environmental policy. This year, the Green Festival will have specialized programming to address the current state of the economy with extensive discussions and information on the growing sector of green jobs.

A joint project of Global Exchange and Green America (formerly Co-op America), two leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to environmental and social justice for more than twenty-five years, Green Festival is a forum to explore and build sustainable solutions for communities and the environment. The Seattle Host Committee of over 140 community leaders, elected officials, local businesses, and activists include Richard Conlin of the Seattle City Council,  Michael Mann, Office of Sustainability and Rachel Smith, Office of the Mayor have all contributed  to design the event with a local focus. With special appearances by Mayor Gregory J. Nichols, the Seattle Green Festival will host 125 visionary speakers, 350 local and national green businesses, and dozens of community and nonprofit groups. All exhibitors must meet strict standards set by Green America, guaranteeing the highest level of social and environmental responsibility in all participating organizations. Each business is thoroughly vetted by Green America to ensure they are authentically sustainable.

If the first few months of 2009 are any indication, this year has the potential to be a turning point in American history for environmental issues, social justice and economic redevelopment.  All of these topics come together at Green Festival with programming that provides realistic options for people all shades of green, from how to improve household energy efficiency to building a greener economy to environmental education initiatives geared toward children.

This year, Green Festival welcomes one of America’s most influential chefs, Alice Waters, to discuss the local organic food revolution she begin in 1971. In “An Edible Education,” Waters will be joined by film director Chris Taylor to share her vision of potentially greening the White House to create a national model and expand the sustainable narrative school systems. Seattle-specific programming ranges from interactive panels on “Undriving Stories: Getting Creative About Getting Around” and “What Does Green Art Look Like” to Alisa Gravitz’s nationally relevant “Green Fixes for the Economic Mess” presentation.

“In addition to bringing a diverse and exciting program to Seattle for the 2009 Green Festival, this year’s show will also provide insight into one of the most pressing issues of our time: economic stability,” says Alisa Gravitz, executive director of Green America and cofounder of Green Festival. “Through the many talks and exhibits at the Green Festival, participants will be able to experience first-hand that one of the ways out of this mess is to go green in their careers, investments, and lifestyle. Sustainability does, and always has, made perfect economic sense.”

In between the exciting presentations, festival participants can explore the show floor and experience a sustainable marketplace with local and national exhibitors providing the best in fair trade and eco-friendly wares. The Green Home Series offers eleven diverse 45-minute workshops to drive the sustainable movement home, with how-to’s ranging from “Bringing Home Baby” to “Composting for Apartment Dwellers.” The Fair Trade Café will provide participants with an extra jolt of energy from natural tea and coffee. The Organic Food, Beer and Wine Pavilion will satiate even the staunchest environmentalist with local eateries, breweries, and vineyards.

Not just an event for grown-up green enthusiasts, the Seattle Green Festival provides engaging activities for the next generation of budding activists in the Organic Valley Green Kids’ Zone. Kids can explore the insect world through song, story and dance in “Don’t Squish That Bug!” with Creepin Critters or learn about climate change in a “Shrinking Big Foot Performance.” Hosted by the Fair Trade Sports and Wilderness Awareness School, the Kids’ Movement Zone will feature eco-soccer games, yoga stretch breaks, and wilderness activities.

Since the first event in 2002, Green Festival has created a model of environmental and social leadership, consistently providing authentic information for consumers on every aspect of green living.  A stringent screening process ensures all exhibitors and sponsors meet the best practices and highest standards for environmental integrity and social responsibility. While many events and tradeshows are notoriously wasteful, Green Festival demonstrates an unmatched commitment to reducing environmental impact by walking its green talk and reusing, recycling, or composting 97 percent or more of show waste. Green Festival was referenced as a model for “how it should be done” by USA Today for the festival’s commitment to producing a reduced carbon footprint experience. To further lower the impact of the event on the environment, those who arrive by bicycle are offered reduced admission along with valet bike parking. Green Festival also provides carbon offsets for the entire event and its participating staff and organizers.

“For eight years Green Festival has been bringing the most up-to-date information on the growing green movement to communities around the country,” explains Kevin Danaher, executive director of Global Exchange and cofounder of Green Festival. “As this movement continues to grow and evolve, Green Festival remains in the forefront as the most relevant source of information on a eco-friendly, fair-trade lifestyle. “

Green Festivals take place in Seattle, Denver, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, DC and saw over 125,000 guests in combined attendance in 2008.

Seattle 2009 Green Festival Speaker Highlights:

· Nationally renowned speakers such as Alice Waters, one of America’s most influential chefs, Waters created a revolution in 1971 when she introduced local, organic fare at her California restaurant, Chez Panisse;  Jerome Ringo, president of the Apollo Alliance and National Wildlife Federation’s Chair of the Board; Bryan Welch, publisher and editorial director of Mother Earth News, Natural Home, Utne Reader, and GRIT; Paul Stamets, who runs Fungi Perfecti, a family-owned, environmentally friendly company specializing in the use of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms; Amy Goodman, award-winning journalist, host of Democracy Now!, and coauthor of The Exception to the Rulers and Static; and many more

Seattle 2009 Green Festival Program Highlights:

· Organic Valley Green Kids’ Zone

· Community Action Center

· Green Home Series

· Fair Trade Pavilion

•     Music Stage Featuring Local Acts

•     Socially Responsible Investing

· Organic Food, Beer & Wine

· Eco Fashion

· Eco Tourism

· Green Careers

Event Details:
Washington State Convention and Trade Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle, WA.

Saturday, March 28: 10:00AM – 7:00PM

Sunday, March 29: 11:00AM – 6:00PM

$15 for two days/$10 for union members, seniors, students, and all who arrive by bicycle

FREE: Children 18 and under, Green America or Global Exchange members

FRIENDS OF THE GREEN FESTIVAL – With a donation of $75 you’ll receive:

· Full Green Festival admission

  • A coupon for two free drinks at the Organic Beer & Wine Garden
  • 20% off at the Green Festival Store and the  BetterWorldBooks Book Store
  • Exclusive tour of the Greening Operation at Green Festival – witness how we achieve 95% resource recovery
  • Visit with Alisa Gravitz of Green America and Kevin Danaher of Global Exchange and receive autographed book – The Green Festival Reader and Building the Green Economy.
  • Regular Executive Producer Updates about the Green Festivals from Global Exchange and Green America

Green Festival Partners:

Better World Books, Clif Bar, Greener Printer, Honest Tea, Pangea Organics, Seattle Climate Action Now, Simple Shoes, T Mobile, KOMO 4/ KUNS

For more information on Seattle or any other Green Festival event visit: www.greenfestivals.org

About Green America (formerly Co-op America):

Green America (www.greenamerica.org ) is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1982, providing the economic strategies, organizing power and practicing tools for businesses and individuals to address today’s social and environmental problems. Its Green Business Network is the largest national network of businesses screened for their social and environmental responsibility.

About Global Exchange:

Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org) is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. Since its founding in 1988, Global Exchange has successfully increased public awareness of root causes of injustice while building international partnerships and mobilizing for change.