It Must Be Thanksgiving Time…
Yesterday we attempted to launch our new GD Streaming Series on Facebook. The content and our guests were wonderful, but there was a Gremlin interfering with our internet connection.
This is what you missed:
Gratitude
We like to say that everyday is Thanksgiving, but truth be told, sometimes we need a reminder to breathe and focus on those things that are around us every day that can bring us joy, if we just say hello and appreciate them.
In the Lakota tradition, one of the seven sacred ceremonies is a thank you ceremony called Whopila, which can take place any time of year. It’s a time to give thanks for prayers answered and to those who helped make those prayers, completing the circle.
So while it’s been a rough year with one crappy episode after another, if we look closely, I’m sure everyone can find some gifts and something to be grateful for as we hunker down for the winter with time to reflect.
Listen in as Green Diva Meg and Weenie Greenie Julie (aka Julie Bond Genovese) talk about gratitude from an episode of their GD Spirit Pub podcast…
Green Friday: Shopping your Values
For those who participate in the recent consumer madness called Black Fridays, it is now time to make it Green. This year we are not going to be able to have large family gatherings for Thanksgiving, with a mad dash to retail stores at the wee hours of the next morning to get huge Black Friday discounts. Oh Darn! (that was sarcasm in case you missed it) But who doesn’t like a good deal around holiday shopping? Well, this year there seems to be a black Friday every Friday from a few weeks ago until Christmas. And oh, can you say Cyber Mondays? Many of us are going to have to rely on internet shopping during this pandemic.
Here’s where our new friends from YourArbor come in. They’ve developed a brilliant new browser extension that will help you shop while staying aligned with your values. Just go to the site, take the survey which builds an algorithm around your particular values, be it the environment or social justice etc. Then when you go to a shopping site, say Amazon or Nike, you click on the Arbor icon that you’ve added to the top of your computer screen and they will show you how that company scores. Not only that, but you can look on, a sight like Amazon, for an item and within that site you can click on the icon to the right of your screen and it will tell you where else you can buy it and how those places score. It’s brilliant.
Normally we encourage people to shop locally whenever possible. In fact, you can support many of your favorite local stores by ordering online or on the phone with them, so please consider helping small businesses in your area. But if you need to order online, do it soon and please add YourArbor to your browser so that you can shop your values.
Companies doing the right thing
I’m going to be producing a new segment in each show highlighting companies that are making a sincere effort to do better — environmentally, socially, sustainably, etc. Here are some companies that I have vetted myself and recommend for holiday or everyday shopping.
From household cleaning and paper products to health and beauty products.
I use this company to buy much of my household cleaning products. My favorite are the cleaning concentrates that I use with the attractive glass bottles I purchased so there is less waste when I need to refill. They have their own brands along with other favorites like Seventh Generation etc.
What to expect from their products:
- Non-toxic
- Ingredient transparency
- Plant-based formulas
- 100% cruelty-free
- Ethical supply chains
- Sustainable materials
- They are 100% plastic and carbon neutral
I keep a running list throughout the month and order when I have enough to justify the impact of shipping. There is a $19 VIP annual fee which provides free shipping and pays for itself quickly. They have flexible shopping options; you can order when you want or set up recurring deliveries. They also make it easy by reminding you what you have ordered in the past and make suggestions based on your orders. Easy peasy!
And as for recycling: “Did you know that Grove helps to recycle the plastic pouches and tubes from our concentrates, laundry, hand, & dish products, and even our Grove Co reusable bags?”
When it comes to healthy food shopping online, Thrive Market is a GREAT alternative to shopping on Amazon. There is a $60 annual fee with free shipping when I have orders over $49, which helps you wait to have a big enough order to justify the shipping impact. So once again, I keep a running shopping list throughout the month on my account on the website. Each paid membership provides a free one for a low-income family, student, teacher, veteran, member of the military of a first responder.
Once again, I count on Thrive to vet the health of the products they sell for me.
“To us, the health of a product is intrinsically tied to the health of the people who produce it, and the health of the planet.
That’s why we’re committed to regenerative farming practices, organic standards, and fair trade. It’s why we ask the hard questions, verify the claims, and do the research—so we can support brands that are building a better future for all of us.”
Better for the environment and our bodies. Yes, it’s a company selling toilet paper and other paper products made from sustainable materials at comparable prices. I love pretty much everything about this company, starting with their sense of humor. The TP is colorfully wrapped for decorative joy in the loo. I just ordered a new offering for each of my kids and their families. There are 48 rolls in the box, each one has a letter or symbol, so my young grandchildren can spell things out with them. One could leave a message on the back of the toilet with the extra rolls.
And the best part is that they donate 50% of profits to help build toilets in places in the world in need of better sanitation, because they believe access to a safe, dignified loo is a basic human right. They’ve been able to donate over $5.7 million to help provide proper sanitation for the 2 billion people in need. Now that’s a lot of toilets!
“Aside from being a great place to read, toilets are pretty magical – they keep waste out of waterways, prevent all sorts of nasty situations and provide a safe, dignified place for a person to do their business. But toilets are a part of a bigger system of health initiatives called WASH, which stands for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Together, these three elements save lives, boost economies and strengthen communities. It’s all pretty amazing.”
And you can order it online so you don’t have to fight with hoarders over TP in the grocery store. There is no reason not to buy from this company.
I’ll be posting more companies for you to consider for shopping your values during this holiday season.
Oh and Thank You.
