It’s Greener and Easier on the Green to Buy in Bulk

12 02 2010

When it comes to buying and storing your food items in bulk,  Eriyah Flynn and Bethany George will teach you

Why

What

Where

How

So for enjoying community with like minds, a delicious vegan potluck and information on this often overlooked option for saving resources and money come and join us:

When: Sunday Feb 21st, 2010 from 2:00 to 5:00pm

Where: 1820 Newark-Granville Rd, Granville Ohio (at the Granville Christian Academy across from the Mansion)

There will be a play area for children so please bring the family too!

Please be conscious of people with allergies by bringing the recipe/and label the food whether it is vegan. We are also reminding everyone to bring their dishware, cups and silverware.

Please RSVP or sign up at our Facebook Event

W e look forward to seeing you there!

Written by Eriyah Flynn


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Categories : Events (Please join us!), Food, Money-saving tips, Reduce reuse recycle, Vegan and vegetarian recipes

Free Cloth Diaper Sewing Class – sign up today!

5 02 2010

Learn How To Sew Cloth Diapers
Cloth Diapers – Good For Baby, Environment, & Your Budget!

You will leave the two-hour class with a finished cloth diaper and the confidence and skills needed to make more diapers on your own with your favorite recycled materials.

Newark Public Library, 101 W. Main Street, Newark, Ohio
Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 12noon
in the large meeting room to the right of the lobby
Attendance at this class is FREE
Space is limited, so confirm your reservation today by leaving a comment in the comment box or RSVP on our Facebook event.

What you’ll need to do:

Purchase a diaper kit (price range $5-$10) in the size and style you prefer from:   http://www.diaperkit.com & use discount code: ohiogreen for 15% off your order.

Bring to the class:

  • Diaper kit you purchased from diaperkit.com
  • Sewing machine – with power supply, foot pedal and is fully functioning.
  • 2 bobbins for your sewing machine filled with thread
  • Package of brand new sewing needles for your machine: (80/12 ‘s.  ballpoint)
  • A spool of thread
  • Straight pins or paperclips
  • Seam ripper
  • Scissors
  • Flathead screwdriver (for changing sewing needles)
  • Washable marker

Written by BettyAnn Zimmerman


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Categories : Cleaning, Eco-friendly or non-toxic products, Events (Please join us!), Money-saving tips, Reduce reuse recycle

Using Green Products to Save Some Green

27 01 2010

Here is an article one of our group organizers wrote for the Trend Magazine (Jan issue, 2010) in Licking County, Ohio.  It is about using green products and everyday materials to live a better life.  Happy reading!

Written by Angie Palmer


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Categories : Cleaning, Eco-friendly or non-toxic products, Money-saving tips, Reduce reuse recycle

The Only Refills You Need for Swiffer Sweepers

27 01 2010

Many of us use Swiffer Sweepers to remove dust and dirt off the floor.  Refills are expensive, plus they are disposables.  Have you considered using microfiber cloths to replace the Swiffer refills?  We have been using the cloths and found them to be excellent alternatives.  Sweep, wash and reuse.  Simple.

Microfiber cloth

(Photo by Angie Palmer)

If you live near a Dollar Tree, go check out if they have any microfiber cloths in the store.  We found two types in the store in Heath, Ohio.  One is a nicely packaged product with one piece of cloth and the other is a packet of two pieces of cloths (as shown in the photo).  The latter is a slightly smaller cloth but works as well as the former one.  50 cents for a piece of microfiber cloth that can be reused over and over again.  It is an investment you do not want to miss.

Written by Angie Palmer


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Categories : Cleaning, Eco-friendly or non-toxic products, Money-saving tips, Reduce reuse recycle

Non-Toxic Homemade All-Purpose & Glass Cleaner Recipes

20 01 2010

At our January event, Dr. Heather Prenger and other people who attended the presentation shared homemade recipes for non-toxic cleaners.  They work as good, or better in some cases, than what you buy from the stores!  We will be sharing those recipes in this and future posts.  First, here is a recipe for an all-purpose cleaner.

What you need:

  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 1 gallon of water

What to do:

  1. Mix the ingredients together in a bowl or bucket.
  2. Stir vigorously to dissolve the baking soda.

Use with a mop or sponge.  To make a spray cleaner, reduce this recipe and dissolve the ingredients to avoid clogging the spray bottle.

Source: Eco-Cycle

ahj

Second, here is a recipe for glass cleaner:

What you need:

  • Club soda

What you do:

  1. Fill a 8oz or 16oz spray bottle with club soda.
  2. Spray and wipe.

Source: Clean House, Clean Planet: Clean Your House for Pennies a Day the Safe Nontoxic Way

asd

(The above information was shared by Dr Heather Prenger and adapted by Ohio Green Specialists.  These recipes are for informational and educational use only and that proper research should be taken by the reader to make good decisions for their family.)

Written by Angie Palmer

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Photos & Wrap-up of “Raising Your Family Naturally”

11 01 2010

Most of us are not aware that there are many harmful chemicals in what we use every day. That includes moisturizer, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, cleaner, deodorant, nail polish and cosmetics.  Thanks to Dr. Heather Prenger, our members and guests who attended the January event “Raising Your Family Naturally” are more equipped with the knowledge and resources to look for eco-friendly and less toxic alternatives to skincare and cleaning products.  In our next post, we will be providing you a few recipes of homemade cleaners that you will find useful.

The second part of the event was truly exciting and eye-opening.  BettyAnn Zimmerman and Bethany George gave a presentation on how to take care and make cloth diapers.  They brought a sample of feed grade baking soda, free containers that we could use for storage and a variety of cloth diapers that BettyAnn and her friends sewed.  Besides understanding how easy it is to cloth diaper babies and wash these diapers, we now know how to reuse things that we would have thrown away!  Big thanks to BettyAnn and Bethany for a well-prepared and informative presentation!

Due to the positive feedback from this event, we are considering organizing a free cloth diaper sewing workshop in Newark, Ohio in the coming months. If you are interested, please leave a comment here or on our Facebook page.  We will post more details once we have received enough interest for this class!

Our event is always free of charge because we believe in the power of sharing information and empowering each other to live a better and healthier life.  They are always fun too, for both adults and children. Hope you can join us next time!

Photos by Angie Palmer

Written by Angie Palmer


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Eco-Fun Vending Machine for the Fun Theory

27 12 2009

Ohio Green Specialists submitted an entry to the Fun Theory Award a few weeks ago.  This award is an initiative of Volkswagen, dedicated to the “thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or for something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better.”

We thought this initiative fits well with the philosophy of Ohio Green Specialists.  Angie Palmer came up with an idea for an eco-fun vending machine and designed a visual of how it may look like.  It has been the goal of the group to encourage healthy and eco-friendly living for its members and guests.

We posted this information on our Facebook page on December 23.  We are very glad to find out that this entry is on the third place of the top list!  Thank you so much for your support and please continue to vote for us until January 15!  Your love and support are absolutely important in helping us move towards the next stage of this contest.  Vote five circles for a local group in Ohio!

Written by Angie Palmer


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Categories : Eco-friendly or non-toxic products, Food, Money-saving tips, Reduce reuse recycle

Raising Your Family Naturally

15 12 2009

Our January event will be called “Raising Your Family Naturally,” which will be presented by a combination of our members and external expert. There are a variety of topics useful for not just parents, but also anyone who wants to live a better life by using more natural resources or spending less money for the same or better results.  The topics include:

  • Earth friendly cleaners: What chemicals to avoid while shopping and how to make your own
  • Non-toxic skin care products for parents and babies, including which toxic chemicals to avoid
  • Helpful resources for Moms & Dads
  • Making & taking care of cloth diapers

This presentation will be conducted by Dr. Heather Prenger, BettyAnn Zimmerman and Bethany George.  Dr. Prenger graduated with honors from Palmer College of Chiropractic.  Dr. Heather is an advocate for natural healthcare and green living.  She has had a passion and great respect for the environment and nature since childhood.  During her pregnancy with her son Jack she started to learn and research about the toxic and harmful chemicals in countless products used daily by millions of people, including the food we eat.  She has spent hundreds of hours researching this information finding safe and natural alternatives.  It is her goal to share with others how to live a more green and natural lifestyle, leaving one less footprint on our earth and one less chemical in our bodies. Zimmerman and George are experienced with green living and are constantly experimenting with various intiatives including cloth diapering and square foot gardening.  Both of them are also active Ohio Green Specialists members who live in Newark, Ohio.

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When: Saturday, January 9, 2009, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30pm

Where: Ohio Family & Sports Chiropractic, 153 West Main Suite #102, New Albany, OH

Who: Ohio Green Specialists members and anyone who wants to live a better life

How much: Free!

What to bring: Complimentary coffee, tea, fruit and non-dairy smoothies will be served!  Please bring your own cup or mug if possible. The group aims to reduce disposables at all events.  Thank you!

RSVP: Please leave a comment here or RSVP on our Facebook event.

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Come learn a few tricks and network with people who enjoy and believe in healthy and green living!

Written by Angie Palmer


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Categories : Eco-friendly or non-toxic products, Events (Please join us!), Reduce reuse recycle

Yummy vegan dishes at our vegelicious potluck in Newark!

19 11 2009

Thanks everyone for attending our vegelicious potluck in Newark yesterday! We got to try various vegetarian and vegan dishes and shared recipes, including mild and hot Mexican pizza, Cincinnati chili with vegan cheese, chocolate chip cookies, gluten-free apple sauce cakes and soy cheese cake with berry sauce! We were also very proud that it was a zero-waste party,which means we did away with disposables as much as possible. People who attended the potluck brought their own reusable plates, cups and silverware.

Some of our members have already started to share their recipes on our potluck event post, so make sure you click on that post to get their proven recipes! We have been receiving comments from people saying that they are interested in potluck like this, so we may be organizing another one in December or January! For those who are interested in joining us next time, please look out for our post on this website, our Facebook page or our LinkedIn group. The best way is to join our Facebook page to get frequent updates. :)

Our next event will be called “Raising Your Family Naturally” in December, 2009 (date to be determined) in New Albany, Ohio. This presentation will include topics on earth-friendly cleaners, non-toxic skin care, making cloth diapers and other helpful resources for parents. More details will be available soon on this website, our Facebook page and our LinkedIn group! See you all soon!

P.S. For those who wonder why we have products on the table, the group is raising money through sponsorship and eco-friendly products that carry a green message. All the proceeds go to the group for organizing future events for members, guests and the general public. Donation as small as $1 is also very much appreciated. Donation can be mailed to P.O. Box 2111, Heath, OH 43056.

(Photos by Angie Palmer)

Written by Angie Palmer


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Categories : Events (Please join us!), Food, Money-saving tips, Reduce reuse recycle, Vegan and vegetarian recipes

Vegelicious Potluck in Newark, Ohio!

5 11 2009

This is the November event for Ohio Green Specialists – A gathering for members to mingle and try out different vegetarian and vegan dishes!

Here are the details:

Date: Nov 18, 2009 (Wed)

Time: 5:30pm-8:00pm (the library closes at 8pm)

Location: Newark Public Library, 101 W. Main St, Newark, OH 43055

Cost: Free, just bring a dish or drinks to share (please read important note below). Hot water pots will be available there. So bring tea bags if you can too.

Who can attend: Anyone! Members are encouraged to bring a guest with you. Children are welcome.

RSVP: Please RSVP on Facebook if you have an account.  If not, please leave us a comment to let us know what you are bringing.

Parking: Plenty and free at the library lot

_______________________________________________________

***Important Note***

Since we are a green group, we try not to use disposables, especially styrofoam cups and plates. Please bring your own cup, a plate and silverware for yourself and anyone who may be coming with you.

Please bring a little tent card or paper that lists the ingredients of the dish you bring. We want to respect people with dietary concerns and allergies.

_______________________________________________________

Oh, did we tell you that one of the best ways to keep our environment clean and sustainable is to reduce our meat and seafood consumption? It is also an easy and inexpensive way to keep a healthy and fit body. While we are being good to the environment, we are also doing ourselves a favor. Plus, vegetarian and vegan food are delicious!

If you need some recipe ideas, check out http://www.chooseveg.com/vegan-recipes.asp. We would LOVE to be your guinea pigs and try out your dishes! ;)

On a side note, we have people who have asked us the difference between a vegan and vegetarian diet.

Vegetarian: No meat or seafood
Vegan: No meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, or honey (for some people)

Look forward to seeing you there!

Written by Angie Palmer


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Categories : Events (Please join us!), Food, Money-saving tips, Reduce reuse recycle, Vegan and vegetarian recipes

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