This giveaway is now closed.
Right before Earth Day, I gave you a heads up about Cascadian Farm and their commitment to help families implement eco-friendly tips into their every day lifestyles. To make it a fun, easy and interactive experience, they have set up a Facebook application, Live Green Together.
Live Green Together is not only inspiring people to green their lifestyles; they have also pledged to donate $1 for every person that signs their Live Green Together pledge to the Organic Farming Research Foundation. They will be donating $20,000 to the Organic Farming Research Foundation minimum and with your pledges, you can shoot that amount right up to $40,000. Cascadian Farm is leaving pledges open until May 31st, 2010, so go sign your own eco-living pledge now!
To help spread the word about this awesome initiative to create a cycle of positive change towards a more sustainable future, I was given the opportunity to try out some Cascadian Farm products, thanks to MyBlogSpark.
I was able to try two boxes of Cascadian Farm cereal–Fruitful O’s and Cinnamon Crunch, two boxes of granola–oats and honey and dark chocolate almond, and two boxes of chewy granola bars–chocolate chip and dark chocolate almond. Also inside the package was a handy reusable green tote bag that was able to fit all of the Cascadian Farm products, as well as other bags of cereal and miscellaneous junk food inside it.
When you live in an apartment, you soon realize how valuable tote bags can be. They can be hung up in a pantry or kitchen closet to keep clutter out of your extremely cramped kitchen space, which is what I love using them for. They can also be taken with you out on errands, used to store small snack items and toys for your children and you can also fill them up with snacks, sunblock and other beach items for a day out at the beach or to your local public pool. Of course, you can also take them grocery shopping to store produce or if you’re just picking up a few things so you don’t waste plastic or paper grocery bags.
I was completely blown away by the taste, quality and health factors contained in Cascadian Farm products. Sadly, Fruitful O’s cereal did not go over too well with anyone in our family, but they more than made up for it in every other product I was able to try.
The Cinnamon Crunch cereal tasted exactly like the non-organic version of the cereal I remember from as far back as childhood. In fact, I couldn’t believe how similar it tasted.
I have always been a big granola fan, so being given the opportunity to try Cascadian Farm brand granola was a huge treat, especially considering how much I loved it. The oats and honey granola was very plain, but not so plain that it didn’t have a taste. It was sweet and you could taste honey in every bite of it. It would make a fantastic yogurt granola for breakfast, lunch or a small snack at any time of the day. But what’s my favorite?
I went absolutely crazy about the dark chocolate almond granola. This granola is absolutely amazing. At first I just tried it straight out of the box, which gave me a great snack and for the next few days, I woke up each morning and ate it for breakfast in a bowl with some milk. Either way, it is delicious and if you like granola, you need to try it. I loved it so much that I boasted about it on Twitter while eating it and even asked Cascadian Farm to marry me. And no, I do not think I was overreacting or exaggerating one bit, thank you!
The chewy granola bars were also a great big hit in our house and I would have taken a proper picture of those as well, but they ended up disappearing astonishingly fast. Needless to say, Cascadian Farm went over big in our household and in just a few days, everything was eaten up and for the record, we plan on buying Cascadian Farm products in the future–a lot.
Sick of hearing me talk about how awesome Cascadian Farm cereal, granola and chewy granola bars are? Okay, how about I give you a chance to win all of the products I’ve been talking about? Yeah, I thought you may like that!
Cascadian Farms Live Green Together Giveaway
This awesome prize pack of Cascadian Farm goodies includes one box of Fruitful O’s cereal, Cinnamon Crunch cereal, oats and honey granola, dark chocolate almond granola, dark chocolate almond chewy granola bars, chocolate chip chewy granola bars and a handy reusable green tote bag!
To win the Cascadian Farm Live Green Together prize pack, all you have to do is leave a comment telling us what eco-friendly tip you are implementing into your lifestyle. [REQUIRED]
Additional Entries: [Leave a separate comment for each additional entry.]
This giveaway ends Monday, May 10th at 11:59PM EST. This giveaway is open to all US residents over the age of 18. The winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours (2 days) to respond with their mailing address. If I don’t hear back from the winner within that time, another winner will be picked.
Full Contest Disclaimer
Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to spread the word about Cascadian Farm’s Live Green Together initiative from MyBlogSpark. For this post, the factual information, prize pack and giveaway have all been provided by Cascadian Farm through MyBlogSpark. All opinions throughout this post are 100% mine.
The 40th anniversary of Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd and usually, this day passes by without anyone really, truly paying attention. Sure, you may see the occasional tweet pop up every now and then or you may engage in a short conversation about the importance of supporting local farmers or the health benefits of eating organically, but there is a lot more that you can do for the planet, for your community and for your health and the health of your family that you may not know about.
I found out about a really great thing Cascadian Farm is doing through MyBlogSpark. They have created a Facebook application for people to make a pledge to implement eco-friendly tips into their every day lifestyles. From now until May 31st, 2010, for every pledge you make their Facebook application, Cascadian Farm will donate $1 to the Organic Farming Research Foundation, with a minimum of $20,000 and a maximum donation of $40,000.
Because everyone’s lifestyles are different, Cascadian Farm has included several different eco-friendly tips and many of them apply to pretty much anyone and know that your pledge will benefit a truly worthwhile cause that will help to create a cycle of positive change towards a more sustainable future, not just for your generation, but for your children’s, grandchildren’s and so on.
Some of the eco-friendly tips include simply slowing down while driving on a highway from 75mph to 55mph, which can improve your fuel economy by 15%, practicing efficient food planning by checking your fridge before going grocery shopping, since more than 25% of prepared food is thrown away in the US and unplugging your electronics when you aren’t using them.
Not only will a great deal of the eco-friendly tip pledges create positive change we need, as human beings on this planet; they will also save you a pretty penny on your monthly bills which I think we can all agree is pretty positive change our bank accounts need!
Head on over to the Cascadian Farm Facebook application and pledge to implement some eco-friendly tips into your own lifestyle and be a driving force in sustaining our planet and feel good in knowing that you are doing something positive and amazing this Earth Day!
Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to spread the word about Cascadian Farm from MyBlogSpark. For this post, I received the factual information on the Cascadian Farm Facebook application and their commitment to helping people implement eco-friendly tips into their own lifestyles while donating to the Organic Farming Research Foundation. All opinions throughout this post are 100% mine.
As a child, I was horribly allergic to a number of laundry detergents. Every laundry detergent my parents would switch to would end up causing the same reaction with my skin–I would break out in horrendous rashes that would itch like crazy so I’d of course scratch, being a child who didn’t know better, which would then result in more irritation and even bleeding and scarring. It was not a pretty picture in the least. Coming from a family who all have their own skin issues, it wasn’t really a surprise to find out that I had (and still have) very sensitive skin and cannot come into contact with most conventional laundry detergents.
Back in the day, you couldn’t find eco detergents; they just weren’t readily available, but luckily, enough people have hopped on the green wagon for companies to pay attention and to start offering more eco detergent options.
Every year in the US alone, more than 25,000 children have accidents involving chlorine bleach and the fragrances and ammonia in conventional detergents trigger allergies, asthma and severely irritate sensitive skin, just like mine! Eco detergents, of course, also help out our environments. Typical laundry detergents contain phosphates and they usually end up in our rives and lakes, causing harm to aquatic life which is really sad and unnecessary.
Try These Eco Detergents:
Method Baby Laundry Detergent: Coconut oil-based, biodegradable soap; triple concentrate means you need less. — $12.99/32 loads
Maggie’s Soap Nuts: Made from dried fruit nuts of the Chinese Soapberry tree; biodegradable, hypoallergenic; natural fabric softener. — $9.99/36 loads
Seventh Generation 2x Liquid Laundry Detergent: Concentrated and biodegradable liquid; Kosher certified; not tested on animals; available in Blue Eucalyptus & Lavender, White Flower & Bergamot Citrus and Free & Clear (unscented). — $30/pack of two 50oz bottles
Mrs. Meyers’ Clean Day Baby Blossom Dryer Sheets: Vegetable-based softener, biodegradable paper sheets — $12/80 sheets
Try This Eco Laundry Tip:
Instead of fabric softener, use half a cup of baking soda or white vinegar in the rinse cycle. You can also use a half a cup of baking soda (plus detergent) in the wash to brighten and whiten your clothes; works especially well for all those really old and ratty t-shirts and night shirts you refuse to throw away; this way you can give them some new life.
When we’re baking, sweetening our coffee or tea, or even sprinkling our morning cereal, it’s very easy to reach for the big bag of regular sugar we have sitting in the cupboard. Even when you’re shopping for sugar, it is much easier to find the big, five-pound bags of sugar rather than even realize there is an organic option available.
Organic sugar has many benefits:
- Organic sugar doesn’t have any harsh side effects on the planet. A potent herbicide commonly used on sugarcane crops is Paraquat. While it is still legal for restricted use in the United States, it has been banned by the European Union since 2007.
- Organic sugar contains no harsh chemicals; for instance, it is completely free of ingredients like sucralose, which is made with chlorine and has been linked to digestive issues.
- Organic sugar is less processed than conventional sugar and it retains more moisture and molasses for a nice caramel-like taste.
Great organic-conscious companies you can trust:
Pest control isn’t always a simple task that can be remedied by yourself with store-bought products; especially if you live in an area of the country where pests are much more threatening than your average ant or household insect. But while pest control options are varied and easily available regardless of the region you live, pest control services rarely use a green approach to the job. While so many families are realizing the importance of going green and are taking small, and in some cases, big steps to reduce their family’s carbon footprint, families expect the services that they pay for to be as cautious as they are.
So while most pest control services are still turning a blind eye to going green, there is one company that has the same go-green mindset as you and your family and use that mindset for their pest control. They are available in many locations where their services are needed most.
Alpha Ecological cares about the environment and they care about the products that they use in your home, workplace and other areas where their services are needed. For more than 20 years, they been ridding pests from areas where you don’t want to see them and they are using a more sophisticated and scientific approach than other, traditional exterminators; they take advantage of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). They use green pest control solutions to eliminate pests and also reduce your exposure to pest control products; they correct conducive conditions, mechanical or pesticide-free items such as traps and general pest-proofing materials such as screens, caulking and door sweeps.
Alpha Ecological most definitely stands on their own when it comes to effectively integrating IPM into the lives of their customers and provide their customers with the highest level of service quality and care. Their services are available in several locations, including:
- Portland, Oregon
- Medford, Oregon
- Eugene, Oregon
- Bend, Oregon
- Salem, Oregon
- Seattle, Washington
- Tacoma, Washington
- Vancouver, Washington
- Olympia, Washington
- Boise, Idaho
- Denver, Colorado
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Tucson, Arizona
- Dallas, Texas
So what’s bugging you? If you come across a pest that you don’t know of or can’t identify, Alpha Ecological’s website contains a full pest library to help you identify the exact pest that is bugging you and your family.
Conventional juice boxes are often deceiving; a great deal of them do not even contain actual juice! Start giving your kids the real stuff–Real juice, no secret chemicals, and you still get to keep your convenient, no-spill, perfect-serving boxes!
Organic juice boxes do a children’s body good, just a six ounce organic juice box equals one daily serving of fruit for kids from one to six years old. Organic juice boxes are definitely much better than conventional fakes that are often marketed to you and your kids, so it’s definitely worth looking into them! Juice boxes are also 100% recyclable, so don’t forget to recycle!
There are a lot of organic juice boxes to choose from, but two brands to get you started are R.W. Knudsen and Apple & Eve.
There was a lot of talk about going green and saving the planet for Earth Day, but it isn’t just important to make an effort or worse, talk about making an effort for Earth Day; to truly make an impact on the world we live in, we need to continue to talk about the importance of going green far after Earth Day has come and gone.
There are ten easy steps we can take to make our planet a little healthier.
Education
We all know that knowledge is power and when you have all of the facts about what poor shape Mother Nature is in and the threat global warming has over all of us, you have a deeper understanding of what you need to do in order to do your part to help.
Create Awareness
Now that you have spent some time (or a lot of time) researching the facts of global warming, energy consumption, pollution, and everything else that has had an impact on the planet, it is time to spread the knowledge you’ve acquired. Tell friends, family members, and even complete strangers about what you know to be the truth about this global epidemic and they will follow suit with their concern and spread the word.
Recycle
Recycling is one of the best (and easiest) ways to do your part in helping the planet. Recycling reduces the amount of garbage that winds up in landfills, reduces carbon emissions by reducing manufacturing and transportation emissions and allows our planet’s natural resources to be more evenly distributed among everyone in the world.
Politics are Key
We need our government to get behind going green. By getting involved in politics, you can see first hand who the people working for you are and if they share your sentiments about going green. It is very important to vote; vote for politicians who share the same values as you do and don’t be fooled–Voting is important and every vote counts. Voting is what we have to make our voices heard and by voting, you are screaming from the rooftops that you care about the green movement and it is a requirement for our elected officials to feel the same way.
Get Your Bicycle Out
Carbon emissions from vehicles are one of the leading causes of global warming. By driving less, you are not only helping the environment, but it also saves you money and improves your health because if you are not driving a vehicle, you can try walking, bicycling, using public transportation, and carpooling.
Turn Off & Unplug Your Appliances
When your appliances, such as your lights, computers, televisions, toasters, microwaves, coffee pots, etc. are not in use, turn them off and unplug them. When your appliances are left on and plugged in, they are still emitting electricity which also makes your electric bill skyrocket.
Electrolux and eco-mom Kelly Ripa have teamed up to introduce an eco-friendly front-load washer and dryer in a new, limited edition shade just in time for Earth day, inspired by the great outdoors and Kelly Ripa herself–”Kelly Green.”
In celebration of Earth day, Electrolux is not only rolling out this new shade, but they have also kicked off their virtual flower garden campaign to drive awareness and raise funds for Global Green USA. Go to electroluxappliances.com and plant a virtual flower for a friend; for every flower that is planed, Electrolux will donate $1 to Global Green USA to support their green school initiatives across the country. Not only will you be helping Electrolux help Global Green USA, but for every person who plans a virtual flower will also be automatically entered for a chance to win a new eco-friendly Kelly Green front-load washer and dryer!
Mom Central is also running a giveaway, giving members of their community the chance to win a Kelly Green washer and dryer. To win the Electrolux washer and dryer from Mom Central, visit their website, tell them what flower you planed on Electrolux’s website, and share one of your own laundry tips for saving time and energy. Mom Central will pick one lucky winner in a random drawing from all entries received.
There are different ways for people to help the environment as well as people in need that many people don’t know about. We wrote an article on how to donate and recycle your old mattresses and the response from that post was great because there were many people that didn’t know what to do with their old mattresses.
Another great way to cut back on the amount of waste that ends up in our landfills and not only that, but also help a great amount of people in need is to donate your old glasses. Your old, out of date, mildly misshapen frames can be donated to people who can’t afford or who would otherwise not be able to see their best—Because of you and your donations, you will be giving people the gift of sight.
You can donate your old glasses at most local eye facilities–Drop off old prescription or nonprescription glasses at your local Lions Club, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears, Target, or BJ’s Optical store. You can also mail in your old glasses.
What did you do with your last mattress after you bought a new one? Haul it out to the trash and let the garbage truck take it away to a landfill? If you’re like most people, then you did and when most people are throwing away their mattresses, landfills are filling up with everyone’s dirty mattresses. About 20 million mattresses are thrown away every year just in the United States and for every 10,000 people that either donate or recycle their mattresses, it would save eight feed of landfill space–An entire American football field.
In some places, throwing out your mattress is illegal requiring people to donate their mattresses where recyclers can separate the fiber, foam, steel, and wood for remanufacturing and can make new mattresses.
There are a few options for you if you’re looking to get rid of a mattress. You can either donate it to either a crisis center, halfway house, Craig’s List or Freecycle. Make sure you clean your mattress before donating it! For instructions on how to properly clean a mattress, check out Instructables.
To recycle your old mattress, go to Earth 911, type in “mattress” in the start recycling “what do you have?” field and your zip code in the “where are you?” field for a recycling drop off sight near you.
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