Green Your Halloween or Harvest Day Activities

Halloween used to be one of my favorite holidays. I reveled in the eerie celebration and thinking up ways to scare people, baking themed treats and really enjoyed trick or treating! Then came church. We are discouraged from celebrating Halloween and to replace the scary themes with celebrations of the harvest bounty(which in itself has some connections to pagan traditions, but I guess you have to replace Halloween with something). Enough about me, let's talk about you and your families. A big issue for those of use that try to be socially and environmentally responsible is how to have fun with your Halloween or Harvest Celebrations and reduce the impact on our family's health and the environment. Green America, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to "harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society" has developed a great and comprehensive guide to greening your late October celebrations. A few highlights from the article:

• Replace candy treats with non-food treasures (homemade bracelets, pencils, stickers, cool looking pebbles decorated as eyeballs, interesting knick knacks, mini pumpkins, hair accessories, dried mini-floral bouquets bundles, bouncy balls, acorn or monkey ball crafts
• Instead of buying costumes - create your own from stuff around the house or swap with neighbors and family members, there are lots of great ideas online
• Have a neighborhood celebration in the community garden - you could encourage everyone to bring some homemade baked goodies for a harvest tasting
• Hand out fair trade goodies in place of non-fair traded chocolates, include with tags that promote and educate on fair trade
• Avoid non-toxic face paints

When my son was younger, we would have Harvest Parties with his little crew. There was usually a video game tournament, a Beyblade tournament, lots of goodies, leaf  pile diving and given that I was entertaining boys - a good ole pumpkin smashing contest to work off all of that energy and sugar to cap off the night!

So whether you celebrate Halloween or Harvest Days, there are lots of fun, green options to do so in a socially and environmentally responsible way.

The EPA Wishes You a Happy Earth Day Everyday

Green Gift Giving for the Holidays

Toxics Avenger | NRDC Green Gifts It's that time of the year. Every year, I become Scroogier as I listen to reports of people mauling each other over stuff at big box retailers and dred buying more stuff for people just because it is expected. I feel a little better this year, as I started volunteering at a national fair trade retailer, Ten Thousand Villages, so at least in addition to being thoughtful about what I'm giving, I'm also being thoughtful about the benefactors of my hard earned dollars - artisans from over 38 countries who really need the money and are putting it to work in their communities. Many of these gifts are also eco-friendly, women friendly and kid friendly. Apparently many of you and your parents feel the same and cited in this article about increasing demand for greener gifts and quality over quantiy. We are not alone! Yay! There are so many more options these days as retailers are getting the message, even discount retailers like TJ Maxx and Marshalls have dozens or organic and eco-friendly options for those of us shopping on a budget. I purchase some great soy and essential oil based candles from CVS and thrift stores/flea markets are awesome places to find authentic, unique, awesome and made in America gifts - especially this time of the year. If you are inclined to shop online checkout the great offerings made available by the Natural Resources Defense Council - the law firm for the earth.

These soy candles are wonderful! At $7.99 - a great gift!

This is one of NRDC's gift options - love the diversity.

Gift option from the NRDC for animal lovers. Gorgeous wolf!

Educating children - the NRDC let's you give knowledge. Nice.

Toxic Avenger - NRDC let's you give the gift of eco-justice!

Living the Life on $30,000 A Year or A Brother Goes Green

Found this article on Yahoo! Finance. Mr. Hopkins discusses how he enjoys a nice lifestyle on only $30,000 a year. I found that he is also using basic green living principles, especially via his use of ebay, Craigslist and thrifting. Maybe we could get more African Americans to go green, buy showing them how they can actually upgrade the quality of their lives through the use of Mr. Hopkins smart buying principals. Though, I suspect a number of us have already incorporated these techniques, just in an effort to survive out here! Trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cents, right?!

Two-fer in Chicago: Green Festival and World Trade Day

Chicago's first permanent resident - Jean Baptiste Point du Sable

Chicago, with all of its imperfections, remains one of my favorite cities - urban (founded by a black man), diverse (though highly segregated), dense, eco-minded, delicious and always poppin'. So it is no surprise that this weekend, it will be hosting the Green Festival and celebrating World Fair Trade Day! I would looooove to attend, but have been out of town two out of the last four weekends - including a college visit to Chicago with my son. Hopefully one of you will go and will take pics for me.

OgilvyEarth: Green Marketing Failing to Motivate Mainstream America

OgilvyEarth: Green Marketing Failing to Motivate Mainstream America Sustainable Life Media I don't think companies marketing their green products is the issue with adoption. I believe that many companies are marketing their products as eco-friendly in response to a recognition that an increasing demographic of Americans are concerned about sustainability. One of the issues highlighted is that "green" is perceived as being too "pink", so the heck what? Women are responsible for 80% of the household purchasing decisions (large and small) and are outpacing men in earning advanced degrees, so marketers are wise for selling to women. Though I can empathize with men being uncomfortable with how products and lifestyles are marketed, those that are secure in their masculinity and have a real concern about the environment and its affect on our health and our future, could care less about "green" feeling "pink". Though, I would have to admit, it would be interesting to see how marketers would market sustainability to men, in the business world, selling on cost reduction is gaining traction. I love to hear your thoughts.

Ideas Wanted for Living Art Project

I need your creative minds to help my teen with a senior art project/competition! My sweetie was selected by his peers to represent his teen chapter as outstanding senior of the year in a regional competition. He needs to showcase his interests, accomplishments and goals while using the themes of "being healthy, being green, being the change and being innovative" (was this custom designed for us or what?). He is a volunteer at the local natural history museum, a debater, a fencer and wants to pursue a career as an environmental justice attorney. He is also a very humorous person! My understanding is that teens (parents) go all out in this competition, so we are really seeking that wow factor! We have so far come up with the concept of incorporating a living, green wall using recycle materials into his presentation, but would love to take a community approach in further developing the idea. Your thoughts/ideas?!

btw here is a link for those of you interested in creating your own living art project.

Thanks!

Two New Blogs I Like

I have been rewarded for posting this week, with the discovery to two wonderful blogs. The first is by a sister in Birmingham, Alabama with a passion for green living. It is Life The Green Way. She does a great job of covering eco-friendly products and gift ideas and she will knock your socks of with more amazing uses of vinegar! The other is from Scotland and is called Allotment 2 Kitchen. Grab yourself a cup of tea and a pen for taking notes, because you will enjoy the colorful photos of great vegetarian delights (recipes included), gardens and nature. I personally want to try to brussel sprouts pie and the lavender brownies!

How Women Use Social Media to Practice Conscious Living

Tune in to "Sisterhood: The Blog Radio" on Monday, September 13th, 9pm EST to listen to a panel of amazing women discuss how they use social media to practice conscious living. Topics discussed will include, healthy living yoga, reiki, massage, holistic practices, physical fitness, spirituality, life coaching, vegetarianism, veganism and green living. Click here for additional details.

Green Summer Living Tips on BAP Living Radio

Hello Friends,

Join me tonight at 7pm EDT, as I share green summer living tips with Ananda Leeke, of BAP Living radio. Click here for details. Have other plans? Don't fret, conversations are recorded and will be posted on my blog later.

Enjoy your day!

Tune In To BAP Living Radio Tonight at 7pm EST to Hear Green Living Tips

Hello Friends! Please join me tonight at 7pm EST to listen to my first day as Green Living Correspondent for BAP Living Radio. BAP (Black American Princess) Living was founded and created by author, yoga expert, lawyer, social media expert and genuine great lady, Ananda Leeke. Tune in tonight to learn more about present moment living and green living 101. Click here for more details on this evening's event.

Raw Food Recipes To Heal The Heart In Raw Times

In between working, watching the Haitian crisis unfold on the news, researching relief organizations, working out and being a Mom, I have tried to maintain balance by doing something I enjoy - trying out new raw food recipes. Raw food is the ultimate in eco-conscious eating - it's animal friendly, good for the earth, easy on the wallet and great for your body. My one complaint, is that it isn't accessible for everyone, given the lack of fresh food in many urban areas. This is changing however, as community, school and urban gardens are making inroads in providing good, fresh food for all people.

Anyway, I am always looking for ways to keep the raw food experience fresh. Two cookbooks that I rely on are featured in the Winter Reading section of this blog, The Raw 50 by Carol Alt and Ani Phyo's Raw Food Kitchen. The first photo, Avo-Corn Stuffed Tomato, is a recipe from Carol's book. It was good, but I think it will taste better in the summer when tomatoes are fresher. For now, I would leave out the tomato based dressing and just enjoy it stuffed with the avocado-corn mixture.

The second photo features several recipes, marinated portabella mushroom "steaks", mashed cauliflower (recipe in the latest VegNews Magazine or versions of them in Ani Phyo's book) and  a crispy green salad with a thick and creamy sage pepper dressing (Carol Alt).  I enjoyed this meal very much. The dressing would make a great dip for in between meals raw snacking.

So remember to take care of yourself by finding balance in life and enjoying something you like (that likes you too). You will be in a much stronger position to take care of others.

Black and Into Green Featured on Go Green Sangha Radio

Hello readers! One of Black and Into Green's readers, Ananda Kiamsha Leeke, author, professional, blogger, radio talk show host, art lover, boho BAP and the hardest working woman I know has asked to to join the conversation this evening at 7pm EST, on Go Green Sangha Radio, to share my green journey and discuss how I give of my gifts to support green living. I would love for you listen in if you can! The sessions are also recorded if you can't make it.

Thanks!