Earth Month Day 8: Seventh Generation GIVEAWAY!

Green Cleaning Giveaway!

Seventh Generation is a leader in sustainable products, packaging and manufacturing whose main mission is to protect human health and the health of the environment.

From their website:
We believe our products are healthy solutions for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within your home–and for the community and environment outside of it. As a pioneer in corporate responsibility, we want our products to make a difference—from their development through to their production, purchase, use, and disposal. We are always evaluating how to reduce their environmental impact, increase performance and safety, and create a more sustainable supply chain. We believe it is our responsibility to set a course for a more mindful way of doing business, where companies act as partners with other stakeholders to create a brighter future for the whole planet.


I have used their products for years - not only do I love what the company stands for, I have found their products to work well - and I have used everything from their cleaning supplies and trash bags to diapers and feminine products.

In honor of Earth Month, I have decided to giveaway a Seventh Generation cleaning package to one lucky reader!  On Earth Day, April 22 at 9:00pm EST I will randomly select one commenter to receive the following:

• Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Liquid
• Seventh Generation Disinfecting Mulit Surface Wipes
• Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner

 
Entry Requirements:

1. Please follow this blog on GFC and leave a comment below letting me know you are a follower
2. If you do not belong to GFC, please follow via Networkedblogs and leave a comment below with your email address

Extra Entries:

• Leave a comment and tell us what you are doing for Earth Day this year or give us a tip on being more eco-friendly all year long!
• Sign up for our newsletter (located on right) to receive email updates
• Like Sprout's Green Family on Facebook
• Follow Sprout's Green Family on Twitter: @sprout5 and leave a comment with your twitter handle below (Pst.. you can tweet once per day until the giveaway ends!)
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with your tweet post address:

        Enter the #Earthday Seventh Generation Giveaway: http://sprout5.blogspot.com/2011/04/earth-month-day-8-seventh-generation.html pls RT


Giveaway ends Friday, April 22 at 9:00 EST - I will notify winner by email shortly afterwards.

Disclaimer:  I did not receive any compensation for this giveaway or review of product - this is just me trying to boost my blog by giving away free stuff!  If you have a product you would like me to review and/or have items to giveaway, I am  more than happy to discuss with you - please contact me by email

Thank you!
*~Sprout~*

...Update: 4/23/11 - we have a WINNER!  #40 Just Another Hat!!  Congrats!!  I will contact you by email.

Thank you all for your comments and follows!!!

Earth Month Day 7: Eco-friendly Art Supplies

Color your World Green!

Art supplies can contain many harmful chemical and toxic fumes but fortunately there are great non-toxic options available.  When shopping for art supplies, always look for products that have the ACMI Non-Toxic Seal (AP or CP).  Also look for materials and supplies that are made from recycled products, are refillable, or can also be recycled.

Check out these great eco-friendly art supplies:






 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Earth Month Day 6: Earth Day Printables for Kids

Educate your young kids about the importance of plants and nature with Sesame Street and have fun doing it with this freebie from Earth's Best - a four page printable packed with coloring, matching and pattern games.
Download yours here:  http://www.earthsbest.com/node/534

You can also receive a Sesame Street Plant a Tree with Me book FREE with 3 UPC codes!

Timing: April 1 – May 31, 2011

To Redeem:
•Purchase 3 Earth's Best® Sesame Street products including NEW Earth's Best Sesame Street Organic Fruit Yogurt Smoothies (offer does not include frozen foods)

•Complete official redemption form

•Mail in redemption form with proofs of purchase, plus $1.49 for shipping and handling.

http://www.earthsbest.com/special-offers/plant-a-tree-for-me-book

Have Fun!
*~ Sprout ~*

Earth Month Day 5: Amazon Green

In 2008, Amazon.com launched their new Amazon Green section, listing all eco-friendly, natural and sustainable products they sell.  If you are looking for a specific eco-friendly item or just browsing for books to help you live a more green, sustainable life then Amazon.com Green should be your starting point.  They have made it so easy to go green by offering millions of Green products and great prices. They have everything from home improvements to books to toys and clothes.

AmazonGreen is a cross-category program that includes a list of products that customers have selected as the best green products offered by Amazon.com and a place for customers to discover Amazon's entire green product selection. Customers can easily find products that meet U.S. environmental rating systems, including EPEAT® (the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool), ENERGY STAR®, WaterSense and USDA Organic, when shopping on Amazon.com. 

Check it out: Amazon Green



Also see Amazon's Earth Day 2011 - it's a great page sharing Amazon's top ways to live green.



Go Green!
*~Sprout~*

Earth Month Day 4: Learn about Landscape Architecture

National Landscape Architecture Month

As I mentioned in my first post this month, April is National Landscape Architecture Month.  As a landscape architect myself, I feel it is part of my duty as a steward of the land, to educate those who do not know or understand exactly what landscape architecture is. 

Do you know what Landscape Architecture is?

From the American Society of Landscape Architects:
Landscape architecture encompasses the analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of the natural and built environments. Types of projects include:

• Academic campusesLandscape architects have advanced education and professional training and are licensed in 49 states.
• Conservation
• Corporate and commercial
• Gardens and arboreta
• Historic preservation and restoration
• Hospitality and resorts
• Institutional
• Interior landscapes
• Land planning
• Landscape art and earth sculpture
• Monuments
• Parks and recreation
• Reclamation
• Residential
• Security design
• Streetscapes and public spaces
• Therapeutic gardens
• Transportation corridors and facilities
• Urban design
• Water resources

Want to learn more?  Check out the latest Landscape Architecture Magazine - this month's digital issue is FREE for anyone to read:

http://www.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416163142&o=ext&RF=LAM_April2011

I will have many more posts this month on individual topics related to landscape architecture - this is just a taste!  Stay tuned for more!

~* Sprout

Earth Month Day 3: Where to recycle electronics

Americans rely so much on electronic equipment - from tvs to kitchen appliances to computers/laptops to ipod and all other digital gadgets - and these devices all have relatively short life spans due to constant technological advancements and upgrades.  Recycling electronics helps reduce pollution that would be generated in order to manufacture a new product as well as reducing the need to extract valuable and limited virgin resources. Recycling also reduces the energy used to produce new electronic products. Fortunately, many companies and manufacturers recycle electronics as well as many municipalities.

Amazon.com supports the responsible disposal and recycling of electronics products.


Check out their complete list of guidelines for each state for Recycling Electronics

I find this list to be incredibly useful - so if you are not sure what to do with your used electronics, check it out for your state.
And if you want to recycle your computer - check out this book available through Amazon.com:

GrowNYC's Stop N' Swap Today!

Have you been doing your spring cleaning and have bags or boxes of things to get rid of that are still usable?
Donating your good used items is a great way to reuse and recycle.  If you live in NYC, GrowNYC offers a great way to donate your goods and even swap up other used items that you can reuse!

Community "swaps" provide the perfect opportunity to find new homes for things you no longer need. By taking home items that you can use, you are also helping to prevent waste from production, packaging and transportation required to get new things.
When: Sunday, April 3, 11am-2pm

Where: Columbia University - Butler Walkway (rain or shine)
Enter campus at 116th Street & Broadway 

Directions via Subway: 1 to 116th St (best route) or b/c to Cathedral Parkway/110th St (walk down 110th and then up Broadway or Amsterdam to avoid a difficult walk through Morningside Park).

This is a free event - just bring your used items and a bag or two to bring home anything you might find!

For more information go to: http://www.grownyc.org/swap

Happy Earth Month!

Although Earth Day is April 22, the whole month is dubbed EARTH MONTH by many organizations because there is so much we can do to celebrate and spread the word about protecting our planet that it couldn't possibly be done in one day!  EVERY day should be Earth Day!  So in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and the month long celebration, I will be posting a green tip, idea, link, topic, craft, image or product every day this month!  This will certainly be a huge task for me since I am really a part-time blogger (I work full time as a Landscape Architect and I'm a mommy of 2 young kids so only have time at night or on weekends..) but I am up for the challenge! 

So to start out Earth Month, I want to share a few websites that I love that relate to Earth Month or offer great ways for you to be more environmentally aware:

Planet Green - One of my favorite multi-media sites for everything about sustaining our planet and making healthy, smart choices: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/feature/earth-day/

Treehugger - From nature to science to architecture to fashion to food and travel, this is the A#1 place for everything green!  Another one of my favorites, this is a site to be following and reading everyday: http://www.treehugger.com/

Inhabitat - Inhabitat.com is a weblog devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and home design towards a smarter and more sustainable future.  Sign up for their daily emails and get inspired every day with green design: http://inhabitat.com/

Mother Nature Network - MNN is the leading resource for daily environmental news, green commentary and simple steps to save money, stay healthy, and support the planet.  It's a cleanly designed website packed with interesting articles  http://www.mnn.com/ 

Practically Green - This is the best website to get tips on how you can be more eco-friendly and to set goals for yourself and to green your home and lifestyle.  If you already live eco-friendly, find out just how green you really are!  I did a few blog posts recently about this fantastic website - check it out: http://sprout5.blogspot.com/search/label/Green%20Living

April is also National Landscape Architecture Month and since I am a landscape architect, I will be sharing projects, info, and topics with you all month long!  To learn more about Landscape Architecture, check out;

The Dirt - the official blog of the American Society of Landscape Architects: http://dirt.asla.org/

Stay tuned, follow and forward this blog this month for some exciting surprises, giveaways and blog hops to celebrate Earth Month!

~ Sprout