Fathers Can Help Mother Earth, Too: A Gift Guide
My father called me the other day to explain that he was trying to use less plastics, but that every time he went grocery shopping he was shocked by how much single use plastic he brought home. This got me wondering, how can we help the dads in our lives make more eco-friendly choices? And what are some sustainable gift choices for the Earth conscious dad? With Father’s Day just around the corner, I decided to put together a short gift guide for every type of dad: The New Dad Congrats dad! Ok so these gifts won’t fit dad, but they will fit a baby or toddler in dad’s life…
What does “Made by Free Women” Mean?
While browsing an awesome sustainable market place called Simple Switch, I stumbled upon a brand called Made Free, which sells an assortment of sustainable goods including totes, t-shirts, and leather goods, most with the slogan “Made by Free Women”. So what exactly does this mean? For a woman to be considered “free” they need to be free from slavery, human trafficking, and forced labor. Additionally, to unbind women from the restraints of poverty, they should be paid a fair living wage for their work. According to the World Bank, there are over 750 million people living in poverty, and many work in the apparel industry in South Asia. Millions of…
Be the Cause in Santa Claus: 10 Children’s Toy Brands Not Made by Children
On Christmas morning, millions of children in America will open their presents to find this year’s most popular toys. Unfortunately, the Christmas spirit is long gone for many of the children who worked long hours to make those toys. The reality is that most of the toys gifted on Christmas morning are made with child labor or forced labor, by children as young as 7 years old; children who should be enjoying their childhood and playing with toys themselves, not be forced to make our toys. Whenever I am considering a gift for my nephew or nieces, I hold a toy in my hands, and wonder what little hands touched…
Stay Local & Shop Local: Picnicking with Local Artists
The holidays are just around the corner, and it’s time to make our plans. Millions of Americans travel each year to see family for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but with the spread of COVID-19 increasing daily and by dramatic numbers, it may be a good year to adjust your holiday plans. It’s unclear how safe it is to travel by plane, and is it worth the risk? Now is a great time to stay local to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. It’s also a great time to shop local, as many small businesses are suffering and need our support. Why shop local? You can buy handmade, one-of-a-kind products The…
Sustain your Comfort Through the Lockdown: Eco-friendly Leisurewear
We’ve been in lockdown for a while, and let’s face it: we may be here a while. Our idea of day to day norms has drastically changed. I’ve sat through so many FaceTime calls, Google Hangouts, and House Parties that I’ve started to forget what people look like from the shoulders down. But I’ve got to imagine that sweat pants are the new norm, because mine are getting a lot of wear. Just because your sweatpants take zero effort to wear, does not mean they were effortless to make. Keep in mind that all clothing is labor intensive, and people deserve to be paid fair wages for their labor! Here…
Colorfully Curated Gifts for Her, Under $50
When I’m thinking about gifts for someone close, I often think about their favorite color(s). My mom loves red and purple, my sister in law also loves red, and my friend Jessica’s favorite color is blue. So whether you are looking for a gift for a birthday, shower, Mother’s Day, or just to remind a friend you’re thinking of them, I’m sure you can find something in this colorfully curated gallery that brings someone to mind. All items are fair trade and/or sustainably made. Enjoy!
Is your Earth Day T-shirt Actually Earth Friendly?
Earth Day is on Wednesday, April 22nd this year and I’m always pleased to see people wearing Earth Day shirts promoting environmental responsibility. But ironically, most of these graphic tees are not Earth friendly. Most t-shirts are made with cotton. In fact the cotton plant produces a fiber that is used in most clothing. I first learned about issues in the cotton industry in the 2015 groundbreaking documentary The True Cost. Due to fast fashion and increased consumption, the majority of cotton is now genetically modified to increase production. Genetically modified (GM) cotton uses large amounts of water and chemicals with dangerous consequences. Large amounts of cotton are grown in…
How to Shop Sustainably at Target
“The big boys are coming, the big corporations, the big brands. They may be late to the party, but they are now aware that they have a big problem.” -Andrea Reyes, founder of NYC Fair Trade Coalition Although I try to support mostly small businesses, there is a certain allure to Target that is hard to ignore. My friend and fellow teacher, Andrea is a Target enthusiast and frequents the store weekly. We often joke that if she put on a red shirt people would think she worked there. So what is it it about Target? When I asked her she responded that the convenience is a huge seller. It’s…
