HUGE THANKS TO THE COMPANIES THAT DONATED PRODUCTS FOR THE PRIZE PATROL:
Now drinking your morning O.J. can do more than just provide a boost of Vitamin C. 
Cool Earth, a UK based international organization working to halt climate change, teamed up with the beverage giant to raise awareness of their “Rescue the Rainforest” campaign- an effort specifically aimed at protecting the Ashaninka Corridor in Peru.
Here’s how it works:
Every time you enter the code from a special edition Tropicana product, 100 square feet of rain forest will be purchased and saved. In this way it is hoped the campaign will save thousands of acres of endangered rain forest which are being cleared at an alarming rate.
On average, an area roughly the size of Los Angeles disappears every month to create farmland for crops such as soya or palm oil, or for cattle ranching.
Tropicana’s partnership with Cool Earth will help secure land that could otherwise be sold to loggers and ranchers and could be cut down within the next 18 months.
Working with partners throughout the Amazon, Cool Earth is protecting forest in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru once held by forest harvesters and loggers. They put the land in a local trust, and help to protect it around the clock to keep the carbon where it belongs.
According to a representative, Tropicana is committed to helping the environment and has even started monitoring its own carbon footprint in an effort to find better ways to reduce the carbon footprint for its products.
More information on the “Rescue the Rainforest” campaign can be found at www.tropicanarainforest.com or by following @tropicanatrees on Twitter.
Now if only Tropicana offered organic orange juice….
A couple of weekends ago, there was an article in our local paper about how many suburbanites are turning to raising their own egg laying hens. I was reading it rather lazily until a quote from a neighborhood hen-lady jumped out at me: “Most people think they have to have a rooster to get eggs, but that isn’t so; hens will lay eggs without a rooster, the eggs just won’t turn into chicks.” Say what? Why didn’t somebody tell me this? Do you know how many eggs I eat a week, and do you know how expensive range free, organic eggs are a dozen? I was instantly caught up in this newly discovered phenomenon.
I approached my husband and asked, “Honey, did you know you don’t have to have a rooster to get eggs from a chicken?” He looked up warily and shot back,” So?” Long story short, Sat. March 21, 2009 we made a trip to the country and purchased 10 one day old fuzzy-butted chicks from a farmer who agreed to also build us a coop. The little peeps were first kept in a home-made “brooder”– a large Rubbermaid tub with a feeder, waterer and brooder heat lamp– in our dining room for the first couple of weeks. Then we moved them into a larger, cardboard box which we moved into the garage.
After another couple of weeks, we got a second large box, cut out the middle and made them a great little chicken condo by putting the two boxes together.They will stay in a brooder until they are about 5 weeks old, at which point they can be put out in their coop, which will have an attached chicken “run”, an enclosed, predator safe “cage” of sorts that will allow the chickens to range comfortably without being loose to wreak havoc in our neighborhood.
Supposedly as few as 3-4 hens will produce enough eggs for a family of 4, but we are shooting for 4-5 hens so hope to have eggs to spare for family and friends (why did we purchase 10 chicks? because many local farmers cannot “sex” their chickens-meaning they can’t tell the roosters from the hens- until they are older; hence the ratio of getting hens is 50/50).
We have been totally smitten with these adorable, curious little babies! Hopefully within 4 months I will be gathering my own range free, organic eggs! If you are interested, I found a wealth of info at www.backyardchickens.com.
By Ambassador Michelle Brooks
http://www.BuySoapNutsHere.com
http://girlsgonegorgeouslygreen.blogspot
I was recently contacted by a representative of Mission Playground and asked to review their products. Before looking at their website, I agreed, thinking it would be recycled playground equipment or something. Later that day I made it to the website, and boy was I in for a pleasant surprise! (Not that there’s anything wrong with recycled playground equipment…)
Mission Playground is an environmentally conscious clothing company for men, women and children that uses apparel as a vehicle for positive change by raising awareness through their designs.
From the website:
The earth is our playground; our mission is to preserve it. This philosophy underlies our operations, from design to production to distribution. Through progressive design, globally mindful art and production practices, we are constantly mindful of the impact we have and want to share that with you. This means using sustainable materials whenever and wherever possible.
Mission Playground graciously sent me several pieces to review from their Fall 2009 line, including the One 
Life tee and Snicker pants. Here are my thoughts on both:
Fits to a T…
The One Life t-shirt (not pictured) for women is made of 100% organic cotton and is one of the most comfortable shirts I’ve ever worn. Soft, breathable and cut just right so that it has a feminine fit yet still allows you to move. Example: I wore it to yoga and felt neither restricted or exposed. Last but not least, the shirt’s design featured a design of hands forming a heart with the words “One life to love…Mission Playground” inscribed underneath.
Nothing to Snicker At…
The Snicker pants for women are just the antidote for your denim jean addiction. Made from 95% organic cotton and 5% spandex calvary twill, these pants are lightweight enough for summer wear, but tough enough for a late season hike. Featuring funky asymmetrical front pocket flaps and button and shock cord detail on the waistband, these pants are feminine without compromising utility.
Planting the seeds…
Besides producing fabulous clothing from sustainable materials, the folks at Mission Playground have also launched S.E.E.D (Sustainable Environment and Education Development)- a program that is committed to raising awareness for issues that concern our playgrounds. S.E.E.D. will pledge 1% of sales to non-profit organizations that share the same passions as we do for our playground.
‘Earth Tips’ Sewn into Each Garment
To further their mission, every Mission Playground garment includes a sewn-in ‘Earth Tip’, such as ‘Plant Your Car – bus, bike, walk, or carpool’ or ‘Bag, Your It – always remember to bring a bag with you whenever you shop’. The tips provide simple steps that we can all take to live in a manner friendlier to Mother Earth.
GIVEAWAY: WIN A COOL HAT FROM MISSION PLAYGROUND!!!!!
That’s right- we’re spreadin’ the love. Follow the directions below for entry to win the Whey hat from Mission Playground before it’s even available on their website! This is an 100% organic cotton, fitted five panel cap with angled fabric bill, contrast cotton piping and interior lining.
Multiple entries are encouraged! Here’s how:
First Entry (required) – Leave a comment on this blog post telling me the name of a product you would love to have from the Mission Playground website.
Second Entry – Follow @GenGreen on Twitter (if you don’t already) and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a comment on this blog post with your @name and a link to the Tweet.
Bonus for Two Extra Entries – Post this Giveaway on your blog or website and leave a comment on this blog post with a link to your post.
The winner will be announced on Friday, May 1 2009 by 12 p.m. MST.
Good Luck!
The GenGreen Team
Yesterday, Newbury Film Series, a nonprofit in Boston, MA, launched “Waste?”- a series of web vignettes that profile people who are redefining waste – architects, retailers, artists, musicians, and recyclers – individuals who derive innovation from excess.
A trailer and webisodes also launched on www.whatiswaste.com for free public viewing. In addition, there are discussion forums where viewers can post comments and a blog about the “Waste?” project.
The purpose of this project, aside from education, is to prove interest in the subject and in turn, secure funding for additional production. Interested parties are encouraged to spread the word (and the link) on Facebook, Flickr, MySpace, and Twitter.
Dave Rizzotto, Newbury Film Series founder and director of “Waste?” and producer Shantel Hansen, filmed primarily during 2008.
Says Rizzotto: “When we started this project, we knew it would be interesting – but that’s an understatement. We met people who convert waste water into fuel, people who make musical instruments from scrap metal, and people who build homes out of used tires. There’s a virtual underground of those who are changing the way we use and repurpose our resources.”
Hansen adds: “I am amazed at the amount of interest and support the project has already generated. I’ve had people step forward to volunteer their time without even seeing the trailer. People recognize that this is a timely project – and they want to be part of it. Perhaps that’s because these webisodes are not preachy; they really serve to inspire.”
Patagonia, a leading manufacturer of outdoor clothing known for environmental activism, has already pledged funding for the project. Squarespace.com is donating the on-line publishing platform, analytics, and web services.
For more information, or to help support this project, please visit www.whatiswaste.com.
The birth of the modern day environmental movement began on April 22, 1970 when a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson organized the first nationwide environmental 
protest. Little did he know at the time that for the next 39 years on April 22, environmentalists from around the world would come together to focus on Mother Earth as we celebrate Earth day.
In 1970 Americans, were using leaded gas in their sedans powered by V8 engines. Factories were exhausting absurd amounts of pollution into the air without any ramifications or even the fear of getting bad press, in fact air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity.
This was all about to change.
On that fateful day 39 years ago, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, on college campuses and in auditoriums to make their voices be heard that they wanted a healthier environment. In the past there were different groups that fought separately against things like oil spills and toxic dumps, loss of wilderness and extinction problems, but on this one day they all united and the light bulb turned on for them. Working together and in support of each others causes would be the key to making the level of change that was needed occur.
On that day a rare political alignment was achieved, both Republicans and Democrats were in support of the same issues. Business tycoons and labor unions agreed with one another, US citizens both rich and poor, city dwellers and farmers recognized the issues with the environment as being larger than their differences, and choose to work together. This led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and in turn the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts. In the years to follow Senator Nelson would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his role as the founder of Earth day.
It was in 1990 when a group of environmental leaders enlisted Denis Hayes, one of the original organizers of the 1970 protest, to take the Earth day mission to the global stage. April 22, 1990 resulted in a monumental shift for the world. On that day there were over 200 million people mobilized in 141 countries. People across the globe woke up to the realization that we all may battle in war and we may differ in religious views, and not speak the same languages, but we all have one crucial thing in common, we have but one planet we all call home. After that specific Earth day celebration in 1990, the concept of recycling became an activity that households and businesses around the world would come to do adopt and accept as status quo. This event also helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Ten years later and with the approach of the millennium, Hayes decided to spearhead the next monumental campaign. Earth Day 2000 would focus on global warming and clean energy. That April 22, the world awoke to festivities similar to the original Earth Day in 1970, combined with the international grass root effort of the 1990 event and now the power of the Internet to assist them in linking activist all over the planet. That year there were over 5,000 environmental groups around the world participating, reaching out to hundreds of millions of people throughout 184 countries.
Earth Day 2000 sent the message clearly to the powers that be, two things; global warming could no longer be ignored, and decisive action for clean energy would have to be pushed to the forefront.
Today the fight for a cleaner, more sustainable global environment continues. This is a battle that each of us wage every day. We are fighting it when we drag our filled recycling bins to our curbsides, and when we give our neighbors a ride to work. When we bring our own mug into the coffee shop, or we choose to pick up the piece of trash left behind on the sidewalk by someone before us. We have come a long way in the last 39 years, but yet there is still much work to be done.
On April 22nd, 2009, we took time to come together, celebrate what we have accomplished and educate about what still needs to be done. We must empower and motivate everyone from our next generations to rouge nations with the gift of consciousness and hope for the future.
By Charisse McAuliffe, Founder and CEO of GenGreen LLC
Photo credit: EPA History Office
All year long we challenge each other to live greener by taking time to try out a different activity or behavior. Some changes are harder than others, and some can require more time, effort or money that some of us have to spare at one time or another.
In the spirit of making this Earth Month as painless as possible, below are some ideas for ways to show your support for the Earth that are cheap and easy!
Get some air!
Attend (or host) an Earth Day awareness event, party, festival or project in your community! Nothing feels better than the sun on your back and good people all around you, talking about saving the planet. Search the GenGreenLife.com event calendar for an event happening in your state. If you know of a cool event that’s not listed, let us know!
Plant a tree!
It sounds cliche, I know, but this is one of the oldest and best Earth Day projects. If you join the Arbor Day Foundation (membership starts at $10) they’ll send you up to 10 trees that grow well where you live…for FREE! Plant one for every member of your family and start a tradition as well as shrink your carbon footprint! Check it out here.
Take a hike!
Even in the most metropolitan areas, a little bit of nature is never far away…why not use Earth Day as an excuse to get out there and enjoy it?! Find a local conservation group, outdoor club, or environmental learning center that hosts field trips or other programs and take the whole family along! Or visit a nearby state or national park and explore all on your own!
Show your library some love!
Newspapers, and magazines use a lot of paper and are here today, recycled tomorrow. New books are pricey and also spend a lot of time gathering dust after the first read. Why not reduce, reuse, recycle and dust off your library card instead? And if you don’t have a current library card in your town, now’s a perfect time to sign up for one.
Photo credit: Sacramento365.com
In honor of Earth Day, Modern Eco Homes will be giving away 2 Recycled Pet Ultra Compact Workhorse Bags, (brown and bamboo colored), as well as 1 Recycled Pet Snack Bag/Stuff Sack courtesy Reusablebags.
Here’s how you can win: Sign up for their newsletter, (you’ll also get a free eBook), and make sure you check your inbox for The Modern Eco Homes Green Sheet on Earth Day, (this Wednesday) with instructions on how you can enter to win.
Good luck!
On April 9th, GenGreen LLC was among a prestigious class of over 60 businesses to achieve Silver Partner status in the Fort Collins Climate Wise program!
Climate Wise is a voluntary, city-run program that is dedicated to helping local business and the environment. Through environmental assessments and creative solutions, the City of Fort Collins Climate Wise Team helps businesses tackle modern-day business challenges that impact bottom lines and the quality of life in Fort Collins.
Besides reporting data to Climate Wise annually, attending climate related meetings and green business seminars, Silver Partners are required to implement and report one new climate related initiative at their place of business.
To learn more about the Climate Wise program, visit: www.fcgov.com/climatewise
April 22nd marks the 39th time Earth Day will be celebrated in the United States!
“Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself.” (Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earthday)
Since that first Earth Day in 1970, people in communities all over the nation have planned celebrations to honor the Earth and raise awareness about the things we must all do to preserve her beauty and health.
Here’s a round-up of some of the coolest celebrations going on around the country. More events like this can be found by searching the GenGreen Event Calendar…look for one in your community today!
Please send comments, reviews and pictures of anything you do to celebrate the planet this Earth Day- we’d be happy to feature them on the blog! Send to: info@gengreenlife.com
WHERE: Habana Outpost 757 Fulton Street (Corner of South Portland) – Brooklyn, NY
STARTS: Sat, April 18, 2009 12:00 P.M.
The two day free event will feature Green Crafts and face painting for children sponsored by Habana Works and The Leadership Learning Lab, a Kid’s Eco-Fashion Show with the Scrapkins, and a Recycled Art Show featuring the art work of local students. There will also be plenty of information for adults – groups like Green Homes NYC, Transportation Alternatives, Green Spaces and Brooklyn Green Drinks will be on hand as well as Habana Outpost suppliers; Solar Energy Systems, Tri State Bio Diesel and Rolling Press.
Where: Alcatraz Landing at Pier 33 – San Francisco, CA
Starts: Wed, April 22, 2009 10:30 AM
Celebrate Earth Day aboard the nation’s most environmentally friendly ferryboat! The Hornblower Hybrid, the only hybrid vessel in the United States, is offering people the opportunity to celebrate earth day out on the San Francisco Bay. All proceeds will go to Save the Bay, an organization dedicated to protecting, restoring and celebrating San Francisco.
WHERE: CU Research Park – Boulder, CO
STARTS: Sat, April 18, 2009 9:00 A.M.
Earthfest is a combination of activities including, the EarthDay5k (a 5th annual Bolder Boulder qualifier), the 5th Annual Dirt Day Adventure Challenge and Expo, Short Track Mountainbike Race, Kids and Adults Cruiser Parade. In addition, there are hands-on family activities like interaction with wild animals and leave no trace clinics, renewable energy demos, live music, fly fishing and climbing classes, and plenty of good local organic food!
10TH ANNUAL TOPANGA EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
WHERE: Topanga Community House Fair Grounds 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd – Topanga, CA
STARTS: Sat, April 18, 2009, 10:00 A.M.
Two days of music, guest speakers, gallery of ecological artists, non-profit organizations, biodegradable solutions, an environmental demonstration area, ecological products and services,alternative energy, optimum healing arts, living by example workshops, tribal elders, organic food &beverages, sustainable solutions, green technology, composting, and planting for all ages and all cultures
DUWAMISH ALIVE! RESTORE OUR RIVER WORKDAY AND EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
WHERE: Various river sites/Cooper Elementary School – Seattle, WA
STARTS: Sat, April 18, 2009 10:00 AM
Hosted by People for Puget Sound along with Puget Soundkeepers, The Boeing Company, City of Tukwila, and EPA. An Earth Day work party to help restore the riverside at Codiga Park – a former dairy farm, now home to Chinook salmon and other river wildlife. Bring your friends, family and co-workers to pull weeds, plant and mulch native plants, get dirty, and build community! The celebration continues at Cooper Elementary School in West Seattle for the Earth Day Festival from 2:00pm – 5:00pm for free food, performing arts, nature hikes, and fabulous giveaways!
EARTH DAY ON THE NATIONAL MALL
WHERE: National Mall, Washington D.C.
STARTS: Sun, April 19, 2009, 10:00 A.M
On April 19th, like in years past, hundreds of thousands of people will take Metrobus, Metrorail, walk, and bike to the heart of the nation’s capital to witness the official launch of The Green GenerationTM and show their support for responsible, brave environmental policy that helps us face the challenges ahead. Earth Day will bring together families, adults of all ages, civic leaders, entertainers and other community members to celebrate Earth Day and share a common commitment to make greener life choices and stem the tide of climate change.
Remember…More events like this can be found by searching the GenGreen Event Calendar…look for one in your community today!
Also, don’t forget to add the ‘Every Day is Earth Day’ application to your Facebook profile to get tips about living greener every day and to help us reach our goal of offsetting 100,000 lbs of carbon on Earth Day!
