Did you knows you could use solar power without spending a dime?  It is as easy as hanging your clothes outside to dry after washing.  And air drying your clothes is easier than you think!

Letting your clothing hang dry is actually doubly beneficial: not only do you avoid the energy use of the dryer, but your clothes will last longer.  Dryers are responsible for many of the reasons we replace our clothing, like pilling, lost elasticity, and of course shrinkage.  You can save money in electricity, repair costs, and/or quarters.  Additionally, I think clothes smell better when they are let out hung out to dry.

There is more than one way to dry clothes.  If you have a clothing line or can easily hang one up in your yard, go for it!  If not, a drying rack is a great tool and can come pretty cheap.  You can also hang them on a clothing rod or a few items in your closet if you make sure there is enough space for it to dry.  When I lived in a house with a very small backyard (about 4 feet wide) I would hang my clothes with hangers on the chain link fence.  Check out Air Drying Without A Clothes Line for more tips and tricks and Laundry Drying Dilemas? Pull a Solution Out of Thin Air!

And people say solar power is expensive!

Do you air dry your clothes or do you want to?  What are your experiences?

One of the easiest ways to eat local in the winter is to prepare in summer.  During this season’s bounty, it’s hard for me to remember that in winter the farmer’s market stocks only kale, onions, and mushrooms.

Fortunately, taking advantage of summer’s abundance is both fun and rewarding.  What’s better than a peach pie in February or strawberry preserves in November?  And buying fruit in season is often far cheaper than buying out-of-season produce at the supermarket.

For many, canning is the first thing that comes to mind when you talk about preserving food for the winter.  But canning isn’t the only way to save your favorite treat for the colder months!  Drying, freezing, or simply keeping items in a cool cellar are all equally great ways to preserve foods.

Your Green Goal this week is to try at least one of the tips below.  Have a better way?  Leave us a comment and share your knowledge!

• Prepare and freeze fruit pie fillings.  For an even easier pie, freeze your filling in the shape of the pie pan, so all you have to do is prepare the crust and pop the frozen fruit inside before baking!

• Use this handy drying guide to find out the best way to dry produce from your garden.  Dried cherry tomatoes make a yummy, summery addition to soups and pastas!
• Try your hand at freezer jam!  A quick and easy alternative to canning, you can use almost any kind of fruit you have available.

• Store your root vegetables in a cellar, basement, or create an insulated storage box with these guidelines from the National Gardening Association.

• Did you end up with more cucumbers than you can eat? Try this recipe for Bread-and-butter pickles to create a snack that will last you through the year.

• For even more ideas and detailed information on home canning, visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation’s website.

Now that it’s finally summer in most parts of the country, fresh produce is in abundant supply.  If you’re not able to grow your own, why not check out the farmer’s markets in your area.  Farmer’s markets are an easy, fun way to stock up on local fruits and veggies while supporting small farms in your area.  An added bonus is that many farmer’s markets focus on organically and sustainably grown crops, and the price is generally comparable — or better than — prices at the grocery store.  And many markets have vendors selling more than just produce; you may even be able to find locally made cider, honey, and cheese!

For your Green Goal this week, visit the Local Harvest website to find a farmer’s market in your area.  Bonus points for buying an item you’ve never tried before!

This week’s Green Goal came to me a few days ago as I was stitching a patch onto my jeans.  While fumbling with the needle — I may know how to sew, but that doesn’t mean I’m good at it — I grumbled to myself, “why even bother?”  My first answer was, because these are my favorite jeans. I don’t want to have to go shopping to find a new pair. 

But when I thought about it, I wasn’t just patching my pants because I hate the mall, but because making do with what you have is an important step in reducing your environmental impact.  Think about that old saying: use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.  Popularized during World War II, I’ve always associated that motto with negativity, scarcity, and my mom telling me I couldn’t have something new I wanted.

When you think about it, it’s actually a pretty positive saying.  You probably have everything you need already so you don’t need to worry about buying anything new.  Don’t have what you think you need?  Time to get creative and make something work!  Or decide if you really need that thing in the first place.

It’s a pretty good feeling, knowing that with a little bit of effort you can make a previously unwearable item (pants with a hole in the seat) totally functional again.  “Making do” shouldn’t feel like a burden, but an accomplishment!

GladRags community, your Green Goal this week is to make do with something.  Mend ripped clothing instead of throwing it out, use a pretty glass jar to hold flowers instead of recycling the jar or buying a vase, or come up with ideas of your own!  Be sure to comment and let us know what you did!

Did you know that the United Nations has stated that the meat industry is one of the biggest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions?  Or that consuming just one pound of meat is equivalent to driving an SUV 40 miles?  Or that you’ll save more water by not eating that one pound of meat than you will by not showering for an entire year?

No matter how you look at it, skipping the meat in your meals is better for the environment — and your health!  Even if you aren’t ready or able to go completely veg, limiting meat consumption to just a few servings per week can make a huge impact.  Your Green Goal this week is to try replacing bacon at breakfast with veggie sausage, the turkey on your sandwich with hummus and avocado, and serving a bean or quinoa-based dish as the main course at dinner.

Of course, even with the plethora of fake-meat products on the market, it’s always better to substitute whole foods like grains, beans, or veggies for meat.  You can even make your own “burgers” from black beans!

Alex and I had a blast at the Seattle Green Festival this past weekend!  We were crazy busy, but it was so much fun to meet everyone — from women who’ve been using GladRags for years, to those who’d never even heard of us before.

One young woman spotted our booth and ran up to tell me that she had only heard of the Green Festival because her sister in Minneapolis had told her that GladRags would be there.  Another told us, “I hope this isn’t too much information, but I’m using a GladRag right now!”  Funnily enough, about five other women told us the same thing over the course of the weekend!

The other exhibitors were just as friendly as the festival attendees.  Our fellow Portlanders Honest Tea kept us supplied with delicious beverages (have you tried their kombucha??) and Sandrine swapped two bags from her June 15 collection in exchange for a set of GladRags.  Organic Essence let us try their brand-new lip balm (in awesome biodegradable packaging!) and we shared some pantyliners with our booth neighbor to take home to his teenage daughter.

Overall, Seattle was a great experience and one I hope we can repeat at the next Green Festival!  More importantly, it reminded me that living a sustainable life shouldn’t be a solitary pursuit.  On that note, your Green Goal this week is to get involved with your neighbors, friends, and community to talk about what you’re doing to save the planet.  Make connections, get inspired, and support each other in the pursuit of sustainable living!

Don’t worry, there’s nothing naughty about this week’s Green Goal!  Put simply, a naked lady party is a get-together where friends can trade clothing and accessories they no longer want but are still in good condition.  You’ll get new-to-you outfits that don’t cost a dime, declutter your closet, and keep perfectly good clothing out of the wastestream!

For your Green Goal this week, start planning your own naked lady party!  There are a number of ways to organize a naked lady party — see the links at the end of this entry for more tips — but here’s a basic step-by-step list for hosting a successful shindig:

1. Invite friends.  The more people, the more clothes, but make sure you have a big enough space!  I find that my best naked lady parties have about 10 people.

Some people like to invite friends based on size, but keep in mind that women of all sizes can share cardigans, shoes, scarves, purses, and so on with each other, so don’t feel pressured to only invite certain sizes, particularly if your friends are handy with a sewing machine!  Much of what I bring is either too small or too large anyway.

2. Clean that closet! If you haven’t worn it in ages or if it just simply doesn’t fit, pass that sweater on to someone who will give it the love it deserves.  It helps to keep a bag or box in your closet, so whenever something doesn’t fit you can toss it in the bag for the next naked lady party.

3. No soiree is complete without snacks!  You’ll want to wait to get started on the clothes-swapping until everyone has arrived, so make sure your guests have plenty of snacks to munch on or ask that everyone bring a treat to share.

4. As people arrive, dump all the clothes into a big pile in the middle of the room.  When you’re ready, have everyone gather around and start digging through the pile for new clothes!  Having good lighting and a mirror handy for people to try things on is a good idea, too.

5. Donate leftover clothing to your favorite local charity.

Resources:

Easy Peasy Tip: Host a Clothing Swap!
getcrafty.com: Naked Lady Party
Like an all-girl pillow-fight minus the pillows
Have a Naked Lady Party to get Ready for Spring

In response to our recent No-Poo post, commenter Jadea suggested making your own hair care products as a way to avoid icky chemicals and excess packaging.  I had planned to write about Farmer’s Markets this week, but since it feels like November outside here in the Pacific Northwest and I can think of nothing better than a hot shower, your Green Goal this week is to try out one of these eco-friendly hair recipes.  And of course, please share your favorite natural haircare tip in the comments!

Rosemary Rinse for Oily Hair

Ingredients
1/4 cup organic dried rosemary

Directions
Simmer rosemary in 1 1/2 cups of water. Strain mixture and discard rosemary. Use remaining mixture as the final rinse after shampooing.

Ginger Dandruff Treatment

Ingredients
Ginger root (grated)
1 teaspoon organic sesame oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions
Squeeze ginger root through press to obtain one tablespoon of juice. Mix all ingredients. Apply to scalp and let dry before shampooing. Repeat three times a week for best results.

Color-Enhancing Rinse (Red)

Ingredients
1/2 cup carrot juice
1/2 cup beet juice

Directions
Rinse thoroughly (and carefully — beet juice can stain!) through hair after shampooing to add or enhance a red tint.  Brunettes: Try a rinse of black tea or coffee to add shine and deepen color.  Chamomile and lemon juice will brighten blonde hair.

Banana Avocado Mask for Dry or Damaged Hair

Ingredients
1 banana
1 egg
1/2 avocado
2 tbsp honey
3 tbsp buttermilk
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Directions
Mash banana, egg, and avocado in a small bowl. Add remaining ingredients and stir until well combined. Apply to hair from roots to tips. Leave in for 30 minutes and then wash out with a moisturizing shampoo.

Nourishing Tea Treatment

Ingredients
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tsp ground lavender
Dry contents of 2 peppermint tea bags

Directions
In small saucepan, heat olive oil, lavender, and peppermint tea. Do not boil. Massage into scalp over damp hair. Cover hair with shower cap or towel to keep in heat and leave in for 20 - 25 minutes.

Sources: LongLocks, SheKnows, Stash Tea

If you’re like me, you don’t have plastic produce bags to bring to the grocery store to reuse because they’ve all been used to store leftovers, trashed, or just plain lost.  And so every time I got to the store I end up needing another plastic bag for my veggies.  My way of solving this problem is to not use any bags at all.  Just plop the product in my shopping cart and go!  The problem with this is that the produce goes bad so much more quickly.  And I hate wasting food!

Turns out, there are ways to keep your veggies fresh without using a new plastic bag every time you go to the grocery store!  The Green Phone Booth has a handy guide to to keeping produce fresh and to keep you plastic bag free!   One great tip is cutting and storing your carrots in a container with water.  This keeps them crisp — and readily available for snacking.  My parents always did this and until now, I never knew why!  Ah, the wisdom of parents, you never know its utility until long after its been passed on.

Your mission this week?  Try out these alternative methods to produce storage after your next grocery run and see how many plastic bags you can avoid. Or share tips of your own in the comments!

Last fall, Alex and I stumbled across the Instructables guide to going no-poo and challenged ourselves to go without shampoo (’no-poo’) for a month.   Instead of shampoo, baking soda is used to clean the scalp, with a vinegar rinse in place of conditioner. Now why exactly did we choose to do this?

Think about conventional shampoo: it comes in plastic bottles, costs a little to a LOT of money, and contains some icky chemicals that you’re not only exposing to your skin, but are washing down the drain into our water.  Not to mention the fact that using shampoo on your hair every day causes it to dry out and become damaged! Your scalp produces oils for a reason, and frequent shampooing can throw off your natural balance of oil production, requiring even more frequent shampooing.  A vicious cycle!

Going no-poo means not only using baking soda and vinegar in place of conventional shampoo, but also washing your hair less often.  During our shampoo-free month, I rinsed my hair thoroughly with water almost every day and washed with baking soda and vinegar only about once a week or less.

The first few days took some getting used to: my scalp was accustomed to daily shampooing and one of the side effects of going no-poo is increased oiliness while your scalp readjusts.  It helps to brush your hair often to move the oil from your scalp down to the drier ends.  There are a whole lot of green bloggers who have experimented with going no-poo — from The Crunchy Chicken to Life Less Plastic — with a variety of results.

Personally, I could only manage about two months of no-poo — and I even “cheated” once or twice when I wanted to wash my hair for important occasions.  My hair felt super healthy without shampoo, and looked great  — but only the day or two after using baking soda and vinegar.  The rest of the time I looked like I hadn’t bathed in weeks.

In the end, vanity won out for me and I gave up my no-poo lifestyle.  But I decided to stay “low-poo”: less frequent washing, and no shampoos/conditioners with harmful ingredients or excess packaging.  Shampoo bars — often sold with little to no packaging — are a great option, and seem to last forever!  I’m still using the same bar I bought almost six months ago.  You can also find shampoos in bulk at most co-ops or natural foods stores.  Just make sure you run a background check on the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database before you buy; with all the “natural” products out there, falling for a greenwashed shampoo is all too easy!

Your Green Goal this week is to take inspiration from the no-poo movement and reduce your impact when it comes to keeping your locks clean.  Find a more eco-friendly shampoo, wash your hair less frequently, or even try out no-poo.  And of course leave us a comment to let us know how it went!