Wishing for Peace on Earth

If wild bears can coexist with dogs, why can't humans coexist with humans? After all, aren't we considered to be intelligent beings? Be kind and feel the love. Peace.

Where are the bees?

Where are the bees? We need bees for pollination; without pollination there can’t be crops; without crops there can’t be food; honey gives them strength, so we need bees for honey because we need strong bees; we like honey on our tea, we like honey on our cereal, we like honey on our toast, and we like honey on our sore throats; we use honey to suppress our coughs, to treat infections and diabetic ulcers; some of us like to cover our apples with honey to bring us a sweet new year; and some of us give honey to monks on Madhu Purnima; we need honey to make mead, baklava, and globuli; a few of us believe bears are the ones who know where honey lies; many of us use honey to moisturize: our chapped lips, our skin, our cuticles, and our hair; we say honey, honey bun, and hon to endear our loved ones; when we get hurt, some of us use honey to prevent the dressing from sticking to our wounds; a few of us make a living moving honeybees to pollinate crops; and because of it, some bees suffer from migratory stress, when they bounce in trucks with fluctuating temperatures, on the way to distant crops; bees need to feed on a variety of crops; our farms used to be diversified; now most of our farms only provide many miles of a single crop; consequently a few of us are feeding bees unnatural diets with sugar, water, and soy-based feeds; though, some bees were found to treat soy-based feeds as debris; external parasites weaken bees and spread viruses, so some of us treat our hives with chemicals and miticides; most of us treat our crops with pesticides and fungicides; a few of us knew sprayed pesticides affected bees, so we moved our hives away from our farms during spraying season, and invented what we call systemic pesticides; unlike their sprayed version, systemic pesticides remain within the plant throughout its life, and are expressed in the leaves and nectar of our blooming plants; our new pesticides weaken the bees’ immune systems, affect the bees’ digestive systems, impair the bees’ abilities to navigate, and harm the bees’ brains; if lost or separated from their colonies, bees cannot survive; when bees pollinate our pesticide-rich crops, we don’t know what they bring back to their hives, or what they feed their young; some bees are dying, others are getting weak, and most are getting disoriented – millions have mysteriously disappeared; we can’t prove our pesticides are killing all the bees, but we know that most bees collapse several months after being exposed to our chemicals; we know bee colonies have lost a large numbers of workers, but not many dead workers have been found. Where are the bees?
 – Juliana Swenson

All of us need to work together to save the bees. If you want to know more about what's happening to the bees watch the movie Vanishing of the Bees, and visit their website for information of how you can help.

The grass isn't always greener... In fact, it isn't green at all...

They say the grass is always greener, but - as you probably already know - grass isn't green at all. In fact, this guy goes so far as to say lawns are evil. We love this video, the facts it shares, and the way it makes us appreciate our drought-tolerant rocky yards all the more. If you've been looking for a little inspiration to render your yard more sustainable, this little movie could do the trick!

Saving Valentina

Michael Fishbach narrates his encounter with a humpback whale entangled in a fishing net. The joy of freedom expressed by the whale when she's finally free is the best part of the movie! Gershon Cohen and he have founded The Great Whale Conservancy to help and protect whales. Visit their website www.eii.org/gwc/ and join them in helping to save these magnificent beings. Reducing the amount of fish we consume each year will also help save all marine life from our fishing nets.

Many Hands Blankies

Loving these blakies from funquilts.com. Blankies are made in small batches by an enthusiastic workforce of developmentally disabled adults in Chicago. Your purchase provides meaningful work for many hands. Each blankie is $75. Checkout pictures and video below.

Have you heard of Vanicream?

Vanicream is a line of skin and hair products that is formulated without dyes, lanolin, fragrance, masking fragrance, parabens and formaldehyde. It was recommended by my allergist after I found out I have sensitive skin. Vanicream products are great, inexpensive and available at pharmacies and Target stores. ~JS.

Organics on the runway!

We're loving John Patrick's Organic Fall 2011 collection! More on Vogue.com

Papier mache animal heads

Anthropologie helps save animals, one bust at a time. Stop the hunting and go get yourself one of these pretty paper creatures!

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas, Feliz Natal, Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale, Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noël...

Eco-friendly yarn

Eco knitters rejoice! Michaels is carrying eco-friendly yarn, and for a store that's not specialized in earth-friendly products they actually have a pretty good selection.

Recommended Read: Which is greener: a fake or real Christmas tree?

Over the last couple years, I haven't put up a Christmas tree because I've journeyed home to Iowa to celebrate the holiday with my family. This, 2010, will be my first Phoenix Christmas in my seven-plus years here, and yet I still haven't found the time to festoon my home in festive attire. Lazy? Maybe. Busy. Absolutely. Regardless, I've chosen instead to relish the Christmas ambience of the PR firm where I work, as well as that of my Scottsdale neighborhood, where lights shine merrily on many a house.

But mark my words: In 2011, I will have a Christmas tree. Oh, yes. Accordingly, I've been wondering whether I should seize a post-holiday sale opportunity to buy an artificial tree or simply plan to pick up a pretty pine or fresh fir from a tree lot on Black Friday??? (Another option: Come up with a creative alternative...)

Which is exactly why I was glad to see this article pop up in the New York Times. Not surprisingly, as with any attempt to determine how green a product or service is, figuring out whether fake or real tree more planet-friendly isn't exactly straightforward. Among the things to consider: carbon footprint, carbon emissions, years using the tree, driving involved to get the tree, the benefits of trees as crops, recyclability, etc. There's a lot to look at, and thankfully, this article can help. - A.F.

Effortless Thanksgiving Table Setting

Just spotted this cool idea on Country Living. It's stylish and inexpensive. You can get the craft paper and crayons or markers at any local craft store if you don't already have them. Please recycle the paper when you're done or save it for another occasion.

Marni's Charitable Totes

We heart these cute bags, just spotted on vogue.com. They reuse scraps of old prints from Marni's collection and the proceeds help fight world hunger. 

Available at Marni stores November 10.

The perfect bike for small spaces

Think Blue stands for ecological and sustainable mobility. But that is not necessarily a car as Wolfsburg demonstrated at the Auto China 2010 in Beijing. (read more on VW's "Think Blue") 

One product, many uses: 2. Transform a tea tin

Note: This post is part of a series on atypical uses for Ecosaurus recycled cards and gift wrap. The series is intended to inspire and demonstrate how one Ecosaurus purchase not only goes a long way with our green start-up, but goes a long way with customers in terms of possible uses. Find the original series intro here.

Fall is here, which means hot bevvies are back in the sipping saddle. Consequently, households and office spaces have begun turning out empty tea and coffee tins like nobody's business. We see this as an opportunity to reduce, reuse and recycle creatively with the holiday gift-giving season in mind. Of course, we have a specific idea to share to share with you today.

A little more than a year ago, we did a post where we talked about handmade gifts and showcased these images. Today, we revisit these photos, designating them the before and after shots for our second post on alternative uses for Ecosaurus recycled gift wrap.

Project supplies:

Old tea tin

Remnant of wrapping paper

Scissors

Tape, rubber cement or spray-on adhesive

Making it happen: 

Leave original paper label on tea tin as it provides a nice grip for Ecosaurus gift wrap. Measure the tin, and cut a piece of gift wrap to size. Ecosaurus-brand recycled paper is luxuriously thick, which means you won't need to adhere a blank sheet of paper to the tin's label before tacking on wrapping paper. (However, it may be necessary to do so with other gift wrap or paper you have around the house.) Make sure the piece of paper hugs the tin to size. Next, we recommend a spray adhesive or rubber cement, as Elmer's glue - unless applied very carefully, evenly and lightly - tends to render paper lumpy. In any case, be judicious but ample with your selected adhesive to ensure the wrapping paper will stick yet remain free and clear of adhesive-induced blemishes. Once dry, fill the can with whatever suits your fancy. If it's going to hold a gift, consider stocking it with nuts, candy, homemade trail mix or granola, tea, coffee or mini cookies. If you plan to use it at home, there's the option of storing office supplies, hair accessories or coins in a stylish way.  

~A.F.

One Product, Many Uses: 1. Reuse gift wrap to dress up a drab drawer

Use remnants of wrapping paper to dress up drab drawers  and cabinets around the house. Here, a slice of Square Pegs/Round Holes recycled gift wrap by Ecosaurus is used to line a kitchen drawer.

At home, cabinets and drawers provide a streamlined artifice for storing a hodge podge of homeowner necessities. People love these storage spaces because they offer hiding places for everything while giving the appearance of beauty and order regardless of what lies beneath. The world's super-organized types further up the ante of beauty and order - thoughtfully arranging the items inside those cabinets and drawers in often awe-inspiring ways. But for less organized types, there's still a quick and easy way to enhance the interior look of drawers and cabinets without having to become the methodical person you are not. The way? A pretty liner. And instead of going to the store to buy one, we suggest using a remnant of handsome gift wrap you have around the house.


Project supplies:

Remnant of wrapping paper

Scissors

Tape or Elmer's adhesive puddy

Making it happen:
I am in and out of one particular kitchen drawer every day. While the drawer was designated for a few random items (kitchen  essentials, keys, a couple markers for making lists), the drawer's setup was no sight for sore eyes. As part of an ongoing fall cleaning initiative, I emptied the thing, wiped it out and tacked down a remnant of Ecosaurus recycled wrapping paper. Now, not only is the drawer free and clear of a few items that didn't belong, it's pretty in there. The attached photo is proof in the pudding (even though I've since added two sets of keys and a pair of purple scissors.)

Note: This post is part of a series on atypical uses for Ecosaurus recycled cards and gift wrap. The series is intended to inspire and demonstrate how one Ecosaurus purchase not only goes a long way with our green start-up, but goes a long way with customers in terms of possible uses. Original series intro here.

Curitiba "The Ecological Capital of Brazil"

My sister lives in Curitiba, capital and largest-city of the Brazilian state of Paraná. Curitiba is considered to be the ecological capital of Brazil, with a network of 28 parks and wooded areas. The city has 200 kilometers of bike paths and residents have planted 1.5 million trees along city streets. 

Capybaras, Capivaras in Portuguese

Curitiba has succeeded in introducing a Green Exchange employment program that benefits the environment and socially deprived groups. Low-income families, living in shantytowns, can exchange their garbage bags for bus tickets and food. Children can exchange reusable waste with school articles, chocolate, toys and tickets to entertainment events. The project helps reduce household waste in the streets as well as in sensitive areas such as rivers and parks. 

 

My sister lives in a high-riser, but that doesn’t stop her from having a compost station and a small winter garden. Her kids know all about composting and recycling. Everywhere you go in Curitiba there's something to remind you of things you can do to take care of the environment. ~JS

Ingredientes for Composting

Compost Station

HAPPY FALL...AND HOLIDAYS! Ecosaurus has launched its year-end sale!

Ecosaurus is proud to announce the launch of its year-end holiday sale, offering shoppers more than 40 percent savings on purchases of recycled gift wrap, greetings and note cards! Our specials for 2010 include discounted pricing on eco-friendly cards ($7 per box, reg. $12) and green wrapping paper ($4 per roll, reg. $7).

Our goal? To make shopping green and buying local both fun and affordable during these economic times. Our recycled paper goods - which are also 100 percent recyclable, including their packaging - are great for dressing up gifts any time of year. A touch of ribbon renders any gift seasonally specific, as shown in these two photos. Plus, the cards themselves are great for sending or giving as gifts to paper-lovers. To peruse our eco-friendly collection to see what floats your paper boat, please visit www.shopecosaurus.com. PS. Please tell a friend.

Mark your calendars! Local First Arizona's Fall Festival is around the bend

Cooler weather has arrived, which means it's almost time for Local First Arizona's Certified Local Fall Festival.

A celebration of Arizona-based businesses, the Certified Local Fall Festival will take place on Saturday, Nov. 13 at The Duck and Decanter on 16th and Camelback in Phoenix. The all-ages all-day event - which runs from 10 a.m. to 4  p.m. - features a mix of free food, live music, kid-friendly fun, as well as a showcase of goods and services offered by local companies.

Ecosaurus is excited to be participating in the festival for the second consecutive year, and our booth is set to feature great deals on green note cards and recycled gift wrap. Consider this event THE time to stock up on eco-friendly cards and wrapping paper for the 2010 holiday season. We look forward to seeing you there! 

One Product, Many Uses: Intro to an Eco-Friendly Blog Series

In light of a tough economy, the appeal of homemade handicrafts and the increasingly mainstream nature of green living, we are devoting a series of blog posts to the different ways you can use Ecosaurus recycled cards and gift wrap. The goal? To show you how to stretch your dollar by brainstorming multiple purposes for every purchase you make. This creative skill comes in handy when you're shopping Ecosaurus - and whenever you're considering acquiring something new or recycling something old. If you have ideas to share, send us an e-mail. We'd love to hear from you and share your ideas with our friends on Facebook! ~ Amanda & Juliana

To be inspired or not to be inspired - there's no question!

Inspiration is for everyone, and its sources come in many shapes and colors. Even icky situations can be inspiring, as they can motivate people to move in the opposite directions (say, away from the neighbor lady who tells you the world is so bad you shouldn't have children) or to offer a helping hand, a leg up or an encouraging word (asking glass-half-empty neighbor lady about the highlight of her week). This Inspire card is part of the Interactive Boxed Set (shown) made by Ecosaurus. As you might guess, it's dedicated to inspiration.
Here's a little story, inspired by our desire to inspire you to buy this card - and its set - to inspire others. Warning: This is a shameless plug.
1. You are inspired to support the USPS and keep in better touch with friends through snail-mail. So you decide to stock up on note cards.
2. You look out the window only to realize how beautiful the planet is. You then look across the room to see a piece of paper peeking out of your recycle bin. Suddenly, you are inspired to seek out eco-friendly cards. You mosey over to your computer  - which is set on "energy-savings" mode - to shop online and save time, gas and resources.
3. You stumble across a company called Ecosaurus. Its green ways, leafy dino logo and contemporary card offerings inspire you to make a purchase, specifically the Interactive Boxed Set.
4. Your cards arrive, and immediately you are inspired to send a letter. You peruse your card options, select the Inspire card and opt to send it to a friend who has - yup, you got it - inspired you.
5. You consider your friend's inspiring qualities, circling the applicable descriptors lining the card. Next, you are inspired to fill in the blank that allows you to further customize the card for the aforementioned inspiring friend.
6. Because you have to go to the post office anyway, you are inspired to write two more cards to friends who need to take time to celebrate and to breathe. Fortunately, you already have the cards handy and can hop to it. ~ A.F. + J.S.