I love the way you stumble upon amazing people and sites with blogs. Case in point, I put up my first Green Swap post and later that day received an email from a reader who happens to have a blog all about organic living. Abby's blog, Good N' Planty (cute name!), is green without being preachy and focuses on the conscious decisions you can make to be greener. Abby is also an editor for Organic Gardening magazine — and she was sweet enough to offer a free subscription to the magazine to one lucky reader (more on that below.) Of course, I instantly wanted Abby + her green thumb on Green Swap. So here's Abby!
1. three simple ways you've gone greener in your life
+ Over time, I let my supply of paper napkins run out and started collecting enough cloth napkins to use instead. In addition to being less wasteful, they make every meal feel a little classier.
+ Even though I don’t wear very much makeup, I used to be a cosmetics junkie! I’ve learned to buy fewer quantities of better quality cosmetics (I’ve been happy with every Aveda product I’ve purchased), and I’ve swapped my shampoo and conditioner for baking soda and vinegar.
+ I really try to “continue the life cycle of clothing” by shopping primarily at thrift and consignment stores, swapping clothes with friends, and turning unwearable clothing into rags or crafts.
2. last green purchase
Ecover lemon dish soap. I realized that a bottle of dish soap lasts me so long that I barely notice paying a little extra for a brand that’s biodegradable and smells great.
3. one green initiative you'd like to see enacted in your community
Better public transportation. If I had a better alternative than my car, I’d use it!
4. best green gift you've given, received, or coveted
My sister recently gave me a simple wooden clothes drying rack for my apartment and I love it! It folds completely flat so it’s easy to store and set up.
5. hardest habit to break to be more eco-friendly
Driving my car! I love driving, and aside from that — I live 20 miles from my job and 600 from my family. I really want to be a bike person but I’m too scared of riding on the road! Once the weather is nicer, I can walk almost anywhere in my town so I really want to make a conscious effort to do that as much as possible this summer.
6. three ways you want to be greener this year
+ Since I just got that clothing rack, I want to completely stop drying clothes in a dryer.
+ Buy less pre-packaged food and can/freeze/dry more harvest from my garden this year.
+ Stop, or at least slow, my impulse to consume. I was really inspired by The Story of Stuff and I want to be more thoughtful about what I think I “need” to buy.
GIVEAWAY!
Abby is offering a cool giveaway here — a free subscription to Organic Gardening magazine! The giveaway is now closed -- thanks everyone! All you need to do is leave a comment here for a chance to win this freebie. I'll run the giveaway through Monday, April 27th and announce a winner then.
A big thanks to Abby for joining Green Swap and for the fun giveaway!
photography by abby
{green swap photograph by charlotte jenks lewis}
yesterday's q+a: liz of linda + harriett
Monday's q+a: amy of smock paper
what's green swap? find out more here
