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My usual random internet searching led me to find this great green jewelery company called Peace Love Earth. If you like letting the world know about your values or if you don’t want to be like everyone else who has the same silver Tiffany’s heart necklace, then these necklaces and bracelets are for you. The designer, Anna Mkhitarian, who also designs clothing and accessories, fuses her love of fashion with her passion for peacefulness, positive change, and her care for the environment.
The sterling silver designs are made with recycled, pure .925 sterling silver. The super cute pendant shown here is hand-polished, and other items in the store are hand-made in Los Angeles. I’m digging this pendant, but they also have more subtle designs, if that suits your fancy. The prices range from $60-275, which varies based upon how many charms go into each piece.
Peace Love Earth = adorable, sustainable jewelery with a great message.
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No, not cheapo jewelery that turns your skin green after wearing it. I’m talking about fine jewelery with an eco-conscious and people-friendly purpose.
There’s been a lot of engagements and weddings going on around me lately. So, as with most things I don’t feel like thinking about, there’s been this constant stream of wedding and engagement info going on around me that I otherwise wouldn’t have noticed. It always happens that way, right? I’ve seen TV segments on how to be a “green bride” and how to have a “green wedding,” and lately I’ve even found some guffly engagement and wedding rings.
I found a store called
greenKarat, an
ecommerce jeweler of jewelery made in more ecologically responsible manner. The company has a strong
philosophy and also goes deep on the issues surrounding gold and gems, like conflict diamonds and the impact of mechanized mining processes. Additionally, they go beyond taking issue with conventional practices and actually deliver alternatives. Each piece of jewelery they sell is evaluated on 8 characteristics:
- Eco Metal: is it made of ecologically mined gold or platinum?
- Eco Alloy: is the alloy a recycled metal?
- Eco Findings: are the small parts of the jewelery comprised of recycled gold or platinum?
- Eco Gems: are the gems ecologically mined?
- Eco Other: are the other components of ecological origin?
- Non-Eco: are there items used that are not ecologically responsible?
- Eco Refinery: did the precious metal on the piece come from an ecologically certified refinery?
- Eco Bench: did the jewelery maker use eco-friendly procedures in the workplace?
Using these guidelines, greenKarat gives each of its pieces a rating called a Green Assay Record. This allows the customer to view the characteristics of his or her jewelery, and understand how green it is. While they understand that each piece isn’t ecologically perfect, because the system isn’t yet perfect, greenKarat does pledge to be open and honest with customers about what goes into each piece of jewelery. Plus, the primary metal is every greenKarat design is recycled from another piece of jewelery. 
greenKarat also has a section on their site called myKarat that allows customers to recycle their gold for store credit, to reuse their gold to make rings, or to donate their gold to benefit the environment. And with gold at premium value lately, now is the perfect time to start exchanging.
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I found a really helpful blog article over at “Moving at the Speed of Life” about eco-friendly packaging that I thought you might like. It’s probably no surprise to you that the extra packaging that comes along with the goods we consume is taking an unnecessary toll. In fact, the EPA estimates that 1/3 of landfill waste comes from product packaging. If that doesn’t scream “opportunity for improvement,” I don’t know what does. Though the amount of packaging that comes with the stuff we buy is not really in our direct control, we do have a great amount of control over how we recycle and reuse these things. The article goes deep on some packaging reduction initiatives being done by Dial and Deer Park bottled water. Other companies, like Method, are also known for their minimalism. Likewise, brands like Ecoist take reusing to a new (and quite fashionable) level. Know of any other brands that have cut down on the packaging they use, or have found an alternative use for excess packaging? Please let us know!
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Is anyone else tired of Myspace? I have to say that I am. I’ve recently noticed that Myspace doesn’t add any value to my life or business. I write blog articles and post them onto my profile; and nobody reads them. In fact, most of the friends that I have don’t even write in their blogs at all. I guess it’s cool for the person that just wants to keep up with some old friends; but for people who actually want to educate–and be educated–there are far more effective ways to communicate online.
Take the Gaia Community for example. I also have a profile on Gaia with about seventy-five percent less friends than Myspace. Of course, I have eighty percent less page views on Gaia than I do on Myspace; but the Gaia page views are much more valuable. More people on Gaia are interested on what I’m doing; thus they leave me great feedback. I also find Gaia to be much simpler to maneuver through than Myspace.
Another useful networking site that I found is the Earth Day Network (EDN). The members of this site are dedicated to doing their part to better the world. I know that my friends on (EDN) are interested in guffly living, so I know to focus my time more on them. The functionality of (EDN) is even guffly. It was so easy to register and set up my profile. It literally took me 5 minutes to register, add photos, music, and widgets to my profile page.
The point is this: if you’re trying to share knowledge with people over the Internet think about other online networks than Myspace. While Myspace is fun; there are other networks–in any area of interest–that are way better channels for transferring information.
Happy Earth Day!
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Happy Erf Day!
I hope you all are enjoying today in the most earth-pleasing ways possible. On this day, 17 years ago, I received a tiny baby tree to plant in honor of earth day. I remember bringing this little plant home from school in a plastic bag and asking my parents where I should put it. I planted the little thing outside of my parents house with the help of my dad, it must have been only a foot or two tall at the time. To his and my mom’s surprise, that little tree made it through that summer and winter (which was not at all my doing, because I think I forgot about it for at least 5 years). Today, my tree is bigger than my parent’s house. It feels really cheesy, but when I take a moment to look at it I get a sense of satisfaction.
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I found this guide, “Organic Foods and More: 30 Days to a Greener Diet,” on The Daily Green. I like this list of simple ways to eat better because you can incorporate just a few of the tips and still be more sustainable and healthier than you were before. Instead of cramping all these tips into one month, I suggest you take one or two of the tips and just work on those those for a week or two. Then, as you progress and get used to your new habits, you can take on a few more of the tips.
The tip I’m going to start with is “Get Real with Sweeteners.” When I’m at a coffee shop I usually go for the natural sweeteners, if they’re available. However, not all coffee shops give you that option. So, I usually end up using 4 or 5 Splenda packets in my coffee or tea. Gross, right? Part of the reason for this is my calorie-phobia. But, I think I can commit to switching my 4 packets of Splenda for one (ok, probably two) packets of natural sugar. My plan is to keep a few on hand in case the shop I’m at doesn’t have any, and to do a 100% switch to natural sugar at home.
Which tip will you work on?
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The thought of my big move, though still a few months in the distance, is one of the reasons why I haven’t gone completely crazy lately. There’s just something about starting fresh – especially when starting fresh means new, organic and natural decor for your new place.
I found some beautiful bedding at Amenity. This duvet cover is made of organically grown and processed cotton, and is printed with non-toxic, water-based dyes. Likewise, its printed and sewn in the US. The queen size duvet is $330. This isn’t bad by comparison. If you look for duvets of the same size at Macy’s or other department stores, you’ll find that their prices range from $100-400, depending on the brand and quality. The store also offers free shipping on orders over $100, and allows returns if you contact them within 14 days of receiving your item.
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My poor cell phone is on its last leg. It functions 100%, but the screen gets all weird and fuzzy sometimes and it doesn’t flip open with ease as it once did. It’s a sad, sad situation for all parties involved. I’m preparing for this unfortunate event by looking for electronics recycling companies. I found this article by
Earth2Tech on 5 great places to send your dearly departed or obsolete gadgets.
I’m most interested in
SecondRotation and
BuyMyTronics.com, because I wouldn’t mind getting a little money for my phone. I went through the steps at BuyMyTronics.com, which included giving information on my phone model and its condition. Their calculator estimates that I could receive $49 for my phone. Plus, they give an option to donate the money to a charity of your choice. At SecondRotation, their calculator estimated my phone’s value at $41. You have to mail your gadget in yourself, of course, but both sites can send payment through Paypal for a quick, simple turnaround.
Pretty Guffly stuff.
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What area of your body needs the most organic love? Yes, the good ol’ goodies. In fact, I can’t think of any part that I’d want to keep further away from pesticides and chemicals. That’s why I began searching for good looking organic undies. I came across a brand you should know about. They are called Green Knickers, and they are based in the UK. I like Green Knickers because they are really cute, and most of their pairs are 100% organic, and 100% fair trade. 
Unless you want to pay for international shipping, you can find Green Knickers on the Green Leaves portion of Figleaves.com (a webstore with all intimates). Green Knickers’ various styles retail for around $28 on Fig Leaves, plus $4.50 for shipping.
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I found this company called Littlearth family of brands. The company is truly innovative and responsible when it comes to making their products. All of their products are made from recycled license plates, bottle caps, and car seat belts and tires.
What Littlearth does is simple: Old or obsolete license plates are donated to them; and the company transforms them into the shape of a handbag, or photo and CD holders, which are bound together by recycled automobile tire rubber. Littlearth also sells belts that are made from bottle caps and automobile seat belts, which are also donated to the company.
There are many variations of each product like Fender, Superflair, and Cyclone handbags; and you can buy a belt made from vintage soda, beer, old west, or classic soda bottle caps. You can also customize your own handbag, CD and photo holder, or belt. You can send in your own license plates–or bottle caps–and have the product of your choice made especially for you.
There is one more great thing that Littlefield does. They sell all of the products–minus the belts– in a sports theme. You can buy the product of your choice with logo of your favorite sports team from the NHL, MLB, and NFL.
Littlearth has been in business for 15 years and is headquartered in Pittsburgh PA. According to the website, Littlearth is the company that is responsible for introducing the world to the term eco-fashion. I don’t know much about that, but I do know that they have very innovative, stylish, and responsible products. And to me, that’s guffly.
My usual random internet searching led me to find this great green jewelery company called Peace Love Earth. If you like letting the world know about your values or if you don’t want to be like everyone else who has the same silver Tiffany’s heart necklace, then these necklaces and bracelets are for you. The designer, Anna Mkhitarian, who also designs clothing and accessories, fuses her love of fashion with her passion for peacefulness, positive change, and her care for the environment.
