Casting Your Vote Dollar for Organics

Most of us think of our voting rights and responsibilities begin and end at the voting polls in government elections. But did you ever consider the voting power of the dollars that you earn? In a government structure that is controlled in so many ways by consumerism, then the ultimate control of that comes from the citizens and their dollar votes. Each time we spend a dollar or more of our money we are in essence, voting for products or a whole way of life. Now you may be wondering how this ties in to organic products and services. There are ethics involved in your purchase of organic products, and your dollars work as votes for those set of ethics.

So maybe you still aren’t really sure how ethics, dollars, votes and organics go together. Lets start with an explanation of how your dollars equal votes. When you make your everyday purchases, big or small, you are essentially supporting the companies whose products your are purchasing. As you spend your dollars you are voting “yes” in support of that companies work and trade policies. If you spend your dollars with companies that support fair wages and work against sweat shops and child labor, then you are giving your vote of approval for that companies’ policies. In the same way, if you are spending your dollars with companies who do not care about the environment or fair labor laws, then you are giving your stamp of approval (your dollar vote) to this company.  This is the reverse of a boycott.

Now, how does this tie in to organics? Well, when you purchase products that are non-organic, you are voting for the companies’ policy of potentially environmentally unfriendly pesticides and fertilizers. You are also voting for the genetic modification that is going on with these mass producers. When you purchase organic foods and products you are casting a vote for the ethics of organic living. Products that are earth and family friendly. Which side would you cast your dollar vote on?

Within the organic and green movement there is some dissension about going organic or locally grown. Not all of your local farmer’s market participants are organic, but everything is generally locally grown by local farmers.  Buying locally has proven to have the lowest impact on our environment. Trucks weren’t needed to transport the produce across the country. You are also supporting the economy in your area. Others would argue that when you buy local that is non-organic, you are essentially letting the local farmers keep doing things the way they have, instead of encouraging them, with your dollar vote, to seek a more earth friendly way of farming. Each of us has the right to cast our dollar votes as we wish. It is a proven fact that organics are better for our health, our farmers and our local communities. When you vote organic you are effecting positive change in many ways.  The voting power is yours; use as you see fit.

The True Impact of Green Living

In this world of companies that are more concerned with their bottom dollar and less concerned about the people they are serving, it can feel overwhelming to consider our power to change this situation. In a world full of sweat shops, genetically modified foods, animal testing and a scary environment that is only getting worse the more we ignore it; it is understandable that we would feel like there is nothing we can do as individuals. But, if we make the choice for a greener style of living, then we can effect a change in our communities and then impact the world. Green living is simply buying and supporting those companies and individuals that promote a healthy body and a healthy planet. By doing this, these companies and individuals are promoting an ethical way of life, which is essentially what green living is about.

So how does this work? It is really quite simple. Every one of us must make purchases, most of us on a daily level. Choose the products you buy based on the companies ethical standards. Do they use animal testing or exploit their workers? Are they environmentally conscious and responsible? If everyone who is concerned about these things would make green choices, then these companies would see a loss in profits and then they would have to make changes to woo their consumers back.  For companies to take notice they have to feel how serious we, as consumers, are about being green.

Green living follows the basic law of taking only what you need but leaving enough so that there will always be more. This is sustainable living at every level. To encourage this in your own community, as well as your own life, consider these green changes to your way of living.

Buy only organic and locally produced produce. Not only will you be supporting local farmers trying to do a good thing, but your family will be healthier. Eat a more well balanced diet that is lower or free from meat.  Find a group of local individuals or families who feel the same way you do and support each other in your green quest. Find ways to use less energy at home and on the job. Turn off your computer at night instead of just putting it to sleep.  Shop thrift stores and look for organic clothing. Consider walking or biking instead of burning fuel in your car when you don’t have far to go. Stay in to eat more often; you’ll be healthier and so will your wallet.  Green living is attainable and will make its mark on our communities and effect change.

The Benefits of Going Green at Home

If you would like to enjoy the benefits of going green in your home, this can be a great start to saving money and conserving the environment at the same time.  Our planet is at risk for instability due to the effects of global warming and immense pollution that occurs on a daily basis.  This is a result of burning fossil fuels, industrialization, factory waste and other production factors.

Some tips to help you benefit from going green at home:

Your home is a place where you spend immense amounts of time and income, so it only makes sense to  enable your home to become more cost efficient and environmental friendly. You can go green using a few ways such as insulating your home, using alternative forms of heating e.t.c

You need to make sure that your house is well insulated in order to conserve heat, especially in the cold winter months.  You may find yourself using more heat and turning up your thermostat if you don’t have a well insulated house, this can result in a lot of money spent each month on the heating bill.

Many people also use too much water and this can result in an increase in the water bill.  You can save so much on your water bill as well as reduce your water waste by doing things such as installing a cistern for your toilet, this can help you to reduce the gallons per flush.  Especially in older toilet models, the gallons per flush can be quite high and this really makes a big difference !

You can invest in better lighting for your home by replacing your standard light bulbs and make your home more efficient in the long run. Many standard light bulbs are quite inefficient in their energy conservation.  Many standard light bulbs also last for a shorter amount of time when compared to LED lights.  You will find that although it may cost a few dollars more to purchase LED lights, they are much more cost efficient in  the long run than many compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Also make sure to wash your clothing using cold water, not only will this make for cleaner clothing, but it is also much more efficient in conserving energy.

There are more tips and tricks to achieving a greener home, and you can do your research in order to find out the most suitable and cost effective method for your green lifestyle as well as your home.  By making small changes, these changes can add up to significantly more in the future and you can also do your part in conserving and protecting the environment by going green!

Eco Clothing – Organic Baby Clothes

Eco conscious folks know that cotton production uses 25% of the world’s pesticides. That’s a lot of toxic chemicals used to produce a single cotton t-shirt. Not only are pesticides used on the production of cotton itself, but toxic dyes with heavy metal in them are used to treat the fabric. Even worse, the by-products of cotton production – called “gin trash” – is fed to livestock and thus enters our food chain.

The skin is the largest organ on the body – you will ingest these poisons right through your otherwise fashionable peice of clothing. This is why parents today are now turning to organic and eco-friendly baby clothing.

When buying organic baby products online, such as newborn baby hats, or when looking for organic newborn gifts, make sure that the label on the product does indeed say 100% organic. When buying textile products, check to ensure that the fabric is 100% organic cotton and does not have another textile blend. Avoid all blends that contain petroleum based fabrics such as rayon, nylon and polyester.

Eco Baby Rooms – Cute Bears and Beyond

New parents are keen on getting everything ready for their new baby’s arrival. For the eco conscious, it’s important to know what is in and around the baby’s room. There are several things to consider right down to what kind of paint is on the walls of the baby room.

A first step is to find out what kind of paint is already on the walls of the baby room. If it is “safe” or at least non-toxic paint, then that’s great. But if not, there are so many kinds and brands of eco friendly paint on the market today. A quick visit to your local paint store will give you the best idea on what’s available or even affordable for a mini-renovation. Just remember that the air the baby breathes every moment they are in the room can be potentially toxic because of the paint and products in the room. So be sure!

Once you know the paint is safe for baby, the next thing to consider is the bedding and furniture in the room. If you are buying new, there are several places online where you can find eco friendly baby products. Look for natural bedding products that aren’t loaded with toxic flame retardent. The very products that make mattresses flame retardent are extremely toxic – and you breathe them in every night. So for baby, be sure the mattress and bedding is safe.

Organic products are a sure bet. Organic bedding and wood based furnture that was grown without pesticides or toxic dies and glues added during processing is not so difficult to find these days. Again, a simple search online will reveal what is available and where you can find it locally.

Even when it comes to educational toys and teddy bears, you can make eco friendly choices. Natural organic wool, cotton or even bamboo is now being used to create many baby products. It’s just a matter of finding out what you can get locally, or buy it online. Find cute bears for the home and of course the baby’s room.

Avoid furniture that is made with plywood, particle board, or fiber board (MDF). It all has been extremely processed with toxic chemicals that your baby will breathe in and ingest on a daily basis. Look for natural wood products and even consider bamboo – the quickest growing wood in the world (which makes it highly desirable for sustainable living).

Once you’ve got your eco friendly baby products chosen and in place, you’ll have peace of mind. You’ll know for a fact that your baby is living in a safe and eco friendly environment because you did your homework and made it so.

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