keeping it green

there's a little movement happening all over the internet today called blog action day. its organizers had an idea to start a worldwide conversation of one issue and asked bloggers to discuss the environment in their own way. and, well, since i do believe that every day should be earth day, here are two simple things you can do right now to make your part of the world a bit greener.

. . . idea no. 1 - recycle . . .

if you're not one of the lucky island households who won the curbside recycling jackpot, surely you are still rocking the good eco-citizen lifestyle and dropping off your recyclables at one of the many community recycling bins posted at island schools as a fundraiser.

here's another easily recycled item that is often overlooked: printer cartridges. they can be dropped off at office depot or best buy, but an even better alternative is to suggest that your neighborhood school or your favorite non-profit host a recycling collection bin as a green fundraising idea.

then take it one step further and find out if your workplace would be willing to host a recycling bin to collect used cartridges to donate to a participating local school or charity. it's a win-win for everyone since some much needed cash is raised to help fund programs in your community, and your actions just saved a bunch of plastic from wasting away deep beneath the earth for the next thousand or so years.

click over to cartridge world and kid ink to learn more.

. . . idea no. 2 - go organic . . .

did you know that hawaii imports 85% of its food and it is estimated that there is as little as a 7 day food supply stocked in the islands? despite those gloomy statistics, a bright spot is that honolulu recently ranked 33 out of 279 u.s. cities for buying organic, and there is a little more hope for a sustainable future in the islands via the recently published hawaii 2050 plan.

over the past few years, my 'ohana of two has been making the transition to organic so i know it can be pricey, however organic food is worth the extra cost for so many reasons. it is much more delicious and my experience has been that organic produce and dairy products stay fresh longer than conventionally grown stuff. plus, it's nice to know that buying organic is keeping the 'aina green and free of nasty pesticides. peace of mind. priceless!

if you are interested in going organic and are on a budget, you can cut costs by shopping at the farmers market (added bonus - keeping it local!), work that warehouse club membership and buy organic in bulk, or, do as your ancestors did back in the day and grow your very own sustainable vegetable garden in your backyard.

and, if your family chows through a lot of produce, consider signing up for a farm share. the idea behind community supported agriculture is to help family farms compete against factory farms by selling their bounty directly to the people. in exchange for a weekly or monthly fee, you receive a basket of fresh fruits and veggies plus the warm fuzzy feeling of helping a small farm stay in business.

click over to local harvest to find a csa near you.

your turn! click on the comments link below and share your favorite green idea with the h|h community.