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Easter was on April 8th. It’s time for Peter Cottontail to hop away down the bunny trail, which means that it’s time for us to figure out what to do with all the fake grass, baskets, and all the other colorful Easter goodies. If you were one of the people who purchased the millions of Easter baskets or artificial grass that leave store shelves every year, here’s what to do with them.

Round Up the Rabbits

Large and small, stuffed or chocolate – in the aftermath of Easter, bunnies are everywhere… like a post-holiday Watership Down. If you’re sick of small and fluffy (or if the little ones are bunnied out), round up the rabbits for an impromptu trip with the baskets – and donate them to a thrift store or charity.

Have a Swap

Have a post-Easter swap party and collect all the bunnies, baskets, leftover candy, and other goodies to trade with friends.

Chocolates

Consumers purchase an amazing 90 million chocolate bunnies per Easter. Organic chocolate is the way to go, but if somehow you still have leftover chocolate, bring it to work instead of throwing it out.

Baskets

Thrift stores love baskets, even Easter ones, so round up your slightly used Easter baskets and drop them off at your nearest Goodwill or children’s hospital.

The Problem of the Fake Grass

Fake grass from Easter baskets can be easily found at any drug store or dollar store in America. Instead of fake grass, next year try shredding paper for the Easter “grass”. That way, the whole thing can be recycled at the end of the holiday. If you’d rather stay away from paper for Easter, wadding up a pastel tee shirt is a great idea, so it can be reused – and cleaned – year after year. But what if you’re already sitting on an unfortunate mound of fake grass? Well, save it with your stamps and boxes, and use it to cushion the next present you buy. Moving or packing? Use some of the fake grass to provide padding for breakables or keep it handy for some arts and crafts projects at local schools.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By Barking Cats

You’re on vacation! You’re in an airplane or in a moving car and your little bundle of love needs a diaper change. Time to pull out diapers made of cloth, which you’ll have to wash later.

Oooh! Everything about that just sounds like fodder for a bad vacation movie.

My good friend who I consider an “eco-mommy” is always trying to find new ways to introduce green products into her kids’ lives. When she and her small family travel, she confessed to me that diapers are the one thing that never seem to go green in her family, especially when the family heads off on vacation.

But whether you decide on reusable or disposable diapers, almost anything is better for the earth than a traditional diaper.

Dirty (Traditional) Diaper Facts

It can take up to 500 years for one diaper to decompose, according to the EPA. Now imagine how many thousands of diapers most parents go through in one year? Disposable diapers make up a solid 5% of landfill waste and can cost several thousands of dollars from baby’s first diaper to potty training.

Cloth Facts for Traveling Parents

Simply put, cloth diapers can be reused. For this reason, cloth diapers may not be the most convenient option for parents on vacation. Most diaper services use non-green products to clean the diapers, and that may not be something green parents are comfortable with. As a result, you may have to figure out how much time you have to wash diapers. However, pro-cloth parents say that there are many green positives to cloth diapers. You’ll save a great deal of your own green by switching to cloth. Plus, most babies who are in cloth diapers seldom if ever get diaper rash, and cloth-diaper parents might have to use less cloth diapers in the first place, because babies can feel when they’ve wet themselves a little more acutely than if they were wearing traditional diapers. Due to the reality of cleaning cloth diapers, this option may not be the best for the family who’s traveling, although when you get back home feel free to check out all the great items at TinyTush.com, including these disposable diaper liners.

The Alternative

For families who want the convenience of a disposable diaper, check out earth-friendly brands, such as Seventh Generation , which has no petroleum-based lotions, fragrances, or latex. All that’s good and green for baby, but the fact is that most disposable diapers are not totally biodegradable. For more info, check out this fantastic disposable “green” diaper chart.
Disposable diapers may be flat-out easier to pack when you’re off to grandma’s or on a cross-country jaunt, but when you return home (and if you’re up for the time it will take), cloth diapers may be worth a try.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By majorbonnet

As 2011 draws to a close and 2012 begins, let’s reflect on our personal green report cards. Have you been mostly naughty? Mostly nice? Do you deserve a green lump of coal or has your eco-lifestyle been merry and bright? If you think you could incorporate more eco-aware principles into 2012, here are some easy ones to start with – or  some key ones to keep.

Watch Your Waste

Much of being green is monitoring what you’re using. Are you wasting lights when you’re home by leaving lights burning? Do you leave the water running when brushing your teeth? What about travel? Are you aware of carbon credits?

Reuse: Avoid the plastic bags at the supermarket and shop with reusable bags. If you’re going to reuse the plastic or paper bags, that’s one thing, but choose to use them sparingly. Once you have enough for household garbage, go back to using reusable shopping bags.

Pick One To Start With

My main green lesson learned in the last six months was to fully read all the labels on hygiene products. I no longer purchase mainstream shampoos or body washes because I don’t want to spend money on products that contain toxic products. The main ingredients that I avoid are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (both of which can be toxic to skin and eyes), paraben-based products (often found to be cancer-causing), and diethanolomine, (DEA) which has been linked to hormone issues and cancer-causing nitrates.

Ring in the New Year With Recycling

Yes, I know it sounds simple, but the basics are powerful. I’m surprised how many paper goods and aluminum cans never make their way to the recycle bin. Even people who know better have been known to toss cans away or use more paper than needed. Take stock. If you’re in the car, keep a trash bag handy to put waste in when you’re on the road. What if your neighborhood doesn’t recycle? Sad, but true – some don’t. Make sure that you collect your recyclable items and at week’s end, take them to a recycling bin near you.

Photo by Passion Leica

By Marissa Cohen

If you’re planning on buying one of the 33 million Christmas trees sold yearly in North America, here are a few green-friendly  tips to consider.

Real Trees

Getting an actual tree (and staying away from the plastic fake ones) has many positives. It will make your living room smell like the holidays – half of the fun of a Christmas tree is pressing your nose to the branches and breathing in the scent of pine. Also, buying an actual tree is carbon neutral and one Christmas tree gives off enough oxygen for almost twenty people. Plus, you can use it for compost. However, you’ll have to dispose of it. But how?

Getting Rid of Your Real Tree

Holiday time (from Thanksgiving to New Year’s) generates 25% more waste than the rest of the year. When the time comes to get rid of your tree,you can contact local Christmas tree recycling centers or donate it.

Fake Trees

Sure, you don’t have to worry about the pine needles in the carpet or dragging the massive tree back outside, but if you have a fake tree, you will have to worry about potentially dangerous chemicals, especially if you’ve had the same artificial tree for years. The main problem with fake trees is that many of them contain PVC and lead based chemical. Over time – like over the last several years that you’ve had the thing – the material in the tree can start to break down, making it toxic.

Experimental Green Trees

What if you want to forego traditional Christmas trees altogether?I’ve seen a few brilliantly wacky photos making the Facebook rounds, among them, a Christmas tree made entirely from used soda cans. And if you’re a bibliophile (as I am), then you’ll appreciate this fantastic slideshow of Christmas trees made from stacked books . This collection of photos made me laugh. It also made me think about how these examples open the creative door for other kinds of Christmas trees. Think of it: Christmas trees made from cds, or recyclable materials. If you want to create your own tree, the green possibilities are nothing short of jolly.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by delta_avi_delta

What’s green guilt? Simply put, green guilt is when we start feeling like there’s absolutely no way that we can ever do enough for the environment. As a result, we begin to feel fed up. Suddenly, sustainable travel – and by extension, the entire green movement – takes on a whole different light and we start to feel burned out. Green guilt is real – and for those of us who take our ecoaware paths seriously, some of us get stuck in it.

Here are some warning signs that you may be headed for a green guilt meltdown.

You’re Lethargic

Perhaps this sounds familiar. You ignore recyclables and toss them right into the garbage when it would be just as easy to toss them into the recycling bin. You’ve given up traveling with your stainless steel water bottle and gone right for the plastic, non-biodegradable kind. Darn the torpedoes, you’re just tired and you believe that it won’t make a difference anyway.

You’re Rebellious

I’ll show you, nature, you think. Will it really make a difference if I purchase carbon credits? No, and I’m going to go off the green wagon. Before you know it, you’re eating from Styrofoam cartons and letting the kids play with PVC-laden toys. It’s time to show up Mother Earth, because you just can’t do enough for her and she’s never satisfied anyway, or so it seems. This viewpoint comes from frustration. When we feel this way, maybe we need a reality check in order to be reminded that what we’re doing is making a difference.

You’re Anxious

In the classic film Annie Hall, Woody Allen’s character flashes back to being a kid and having a full-scale existential crisis. He’s not doing his homework because, he tells his concerned mother, the universe is expanding and if the universe expands, that will be the end of everything. In much the same way, green anxiety can make sure that we never rest, always worrying about how much else there is to be done and how much of the planet you didn’t save today. It can stop us from enjoying the earth we’re trying to save – and the life we’re trying to enrich.

How to Get Your Green Back

Break it down and focus on small changes you can make. Can’t afford green luggage made from hemp? Go with what you have and reuse. Remember to unplug appliances when leaving the house – and try to balance green motivation with green realism. You may not be able to do everything on the green travel checklist every single time you plan a carpool or buy a plane ticket – but awareness is the most important thing to pack in your luggage.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by pjohnkeane

What do you need to camp the green way? Isn’t being outside enough? Nope, not at all. Here’s a list of what you need to green up the camping, from plates and cups to respecting trees, we’ve got some great tips to help you keep your fall camping trip environmentally friendly.

Cups and Plates

When you’re vacationing in the woods, it can be temping to bring along paper cups and plates. When packing for the trip, make sure that your tableware is either made from recyclable paper or simply bring a lightweight, non-disposable plate and cup.

Carry It Out

Remember to take all trash back home with you or to get rid of it properly. If you’re going to be camping in an area with strict rules about trash disposal, you may want to bring recycled or biodegradable garbage bags with you so you can easily pick up after yourself and leave the area as you found it. Seventh Generation offers recycled trash bags and BioBag offers biodegradable trash bags both brands come in all sizes and can be purchased in most grocery stores. Also, follow the rules. Certain campgrounds or parks have specific rules about the disposal of waste.

Tree-Loving

Don’t use branches for barbequing food, to play fetch with the dog, or to try to create a natural fishing pole. (I’m sure someone’s tried that.) Try not to rip or tear anything off the trees or plants. Similarly, stick to the designated paths for campers. Going off the trail could harm wildlife or the natural environment.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by Jennifer Smith

Being green means being aware – and a big part of that aligns obviously with our awareness of the planet – and an awareness of ourselves. Over the last few weeks, we’ve focused on green technology and how it relates to green travel. We’ve looked at ways to green up our existing technology in order to keep our feet planted firmly in the world of connections and communications, including some Smartphone apps – and we’ve done all this while still trying to respect the environment.

But what happens when all the technology goes away? We’re left with our own thoughts. A friend of mine teaches social networking and has her students go on a technology fast. Why? I’d guess it’s so we can see the vast amount of time underneath the texting, emailing, and blogging. We’re caught up in it, 24/7, and while technology certainly has a lot to give us in terms of green travel and green knowledge, it can also drown us out.

See what happens when you turn off the computer. Experience a world – for two hours or two days – without the constant presence of electronics. Turn off your Smartphone. Don’t look at your apps (even if they’re green apps)!

What happens? How do you feel? Are you restless? Bored? Calm?

How would a worldwide technology fast change the way we live? Imagine what could happen if, for just a few days, every single person turned off one major electronic item, such as a television, a Smartphone, or a computer. It  boggles the mind how much electricity we could save – and how in touch with ourselves we might be.

 By Marissa Cohen

Photo by adactio

Whether you are visiting South Florida, the greater Fort Lauderdale area or taking a ‘stay’cation in Hollywood, a myriad of fun activities await you and your family. Be prepared for Hollywood to become a favorite vacation getaway, especially if you are on a budget. From the beach to dancing to movie nights, your affordable options are plenty. There are many free activities and some really inexpensive ones, so the family is able to enjoy without short-changing the budget. Following are just some ongoing options:

Arts Park at Young Circle

This green oasis is located in the middle of Downtown Hollywood. It features the Millenium Springs, a spectacular fountain created by Japanese artist Ritsuko Taho, and a unique playground your children will love to climb and play on. Artspark features the following ongoing free events weekly:

• Family Movie Nights Fridays at 8:00 p.m.
• Disco Dancing in the Park Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.
• Live Glass Blowing Demonstrations every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Classes as also available www.gbohf.com

For more information,call 954-921-3500. Artspark is located at 1 Young Cir. Hollywood, FL 33020.

Yellow Green Farmer’s Market

Part farmers market, artisan flea market, Yellow Green provides a delicious fresh foods and beautiful objects created by local artists and craftpeople. Free parking and no entrance fee. You could easily spend hours meandering through the ailes, enjoying an ice cream or some exotic delight.
Information: 954-513-3990 or www.ygfarmersmarket.com. The Yellow Green Farmer’s Market is located at 1940 N. 30th Road, Hollywood, FL 33020. Open Saturday & Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Anne Kolb Center

This 1,501-acre nature center features a coastal mangrove wetland where a multitude of native plants and animals, including some threatened and endangered species call home. Featuring several trails, boat tour and boat/ kayak rental, this is a little known treasure that is sure to make your stay extra special.

Aquarium Behind the Scenes

If you love marine life, this is an event for you! The behind the scenes at the aquarium will teach you interesting facts about the inhabitants of the aquarium. You can even observe them feeding. This is a great event for all ages. The exhibit hall admission is $1 per person.  Occurs every week on Sunday and Saturday from 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. The Anne Kolb Nature Center is located at 1200 Sheridan St. / 751 Sheridan St., Hollywood, FL 33019. For more information, call 954-357-5161 or visit WestLakePark@Broward.org

Hollywood Trolley

The Hollywood Trolley offers an easy way to travel within Hollywood Beach and Historic Downtown. With more than a dozen stops, departing every 30 minutes, you can count on the trolley to take you to the most popular destinations within or near Hollywood. The trolley runs Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The ride is $1 per ride/per person and children age 5 and under ride FREE. For more information, call 954-921-3551 or visit trolley@hollywoodfl.org

By Nuria Almeida

Photo by Lina Gonzalez

When packing to head out on your eco-friendly vacation, you’ll need to take your phone with you. Personally, I think any Smartphone is pretty green – by charging it, you’re essentially charging several items (camera, e-reader, phone) all in one. But can we make the rest of the phone more green?

Green Cases

Look into eco-friendly cases such as ones made from recycled plastic or different kinds of wood, such as bamboo. Several major companies (AT&T, Sprint) carry eco-friendly cases, as do many online stores. SigniCASE makes bamboo iphone cases, including this super cool one.

The Green App

Talk about making green travel a little easier for the technologically inclined. Want to track your carbon footprint while on the road? Many apps give you daily green tips, a solar/wind/water calculator, and help you to calculate your home’s energy audit. Many of these can be found for free and can do everything from helping you find green food on the road to finding eco-friendly places to stay.

Solar Chargers

Never underestimate the importance of a good solar charger for your Smartphone or iPad. Many of these can be found online. On average, a half hour of charge time gives you about an hour’s worth of chat.
Some, like this Solio Universal solar charger kit look pleasingly petite. The downside? Some chargers force you to be in total direct sunlight, which can be a headache if you’re not camping at that exact moment. The upside? Working with nature, rather then wasting electricity is a pretty big upside.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by Kaveh_Pics

A few weeks ago, we ran a piece on greening your car. In that piece, I talked about ways to keep your car green and clean. But what about all the car accessories, from windshield wiper blades to emergency tools? Make your accessories eco-friendly too and really compete your green travel experience.

The Car-Friendly SmartPhone Apps

Several phone apps can actually help to monitor your eco-smarts on the road. You can monitor gas prices, green habits, your daily or weekly carbon footprint, and more on some of these green car apps.

Green Blades

Windshield wipers must be replaced twice a year and also degrade over time. Go green with eco-friendly blades. Look for ones that are not made from petroleum products. Jamak  offers wiper blades that are made of 100% recyclable silicone and come with a manufacture’s warranty for as long as you own the car.

Emergency Kit

Hand-crank flashlights or LED powered flashlights are the way to go in case of an auto-emergency. Standards such as band-aids or tire changing gear are also important. When creating your own emergency kit for your car, be prepared and make a list in advance. What goes into your emergency stash should have bearing on the climate you live in. Living in the cold? Make sure that extra snow chains or blankets are a part of the stash.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by doviende