Green your holidays with this collection of eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas! According to Sustainable America, an estimated 8,000 tons of wrapping paper is used during the holiday season – that equals roughly 50,000 trees!

Wrapping paper is designed for single-use, and although the patterns can be cheerful and bright, the environmental impact is anything but. Think you'll just recycle the gift wrap? Think again! Most wrapping paper is not recyclable – meaning its final destination is a landfill. 

Instead, everyday household items can be repurposed into creative gift wraps for the holidays or any occasion! 

The handmade cosmetics and beauty products company Lush was inspired by the traditional Japanese art of wrapping cloth called Furoshiki. The company sells colorful eco-friendly fabric wraps in-store and online. The scarfs are made from either organic cotton or two recycled plastic bottles! They'll even throw in instruction cards with directions on how to wrap all of your goodies. The wraps are basically a gift within itself, and the recipient can either pay-it-forward and reuse the fabric to wrap their next gift in or use it as a tote, scarf, or headband.

Never heard of Lush? The company is against animal testing and all products are 100 percent vegetarian. Try the shampoo bar! Ditch the shampoo bottles and use a bar instead (there's even a tin you can purchase to store it in). Conditioner bars are available too.

Here are five ways you can reuse your knot wrap via LushUSA.com. 

Easy peasy and adorable! Check out this idea from "SustainableMags."

• 
  
• Grab an empty cereal box

 

• Cut the tabs off the top of the box

 

• Use a hole punch to make two holes on either side of the box

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• Thread ribbon, twine, shoestrings (or anything you can think of) through the holes and tie a knot on the ends

​Got a gift certificate or small item such as a bracelet or other trinket? Try this recycled pillow boxes idea from Older and Wisor. How cute are these?

Put a bow on it – you're done! How about this great idea from "Creative Homemaking?" Use your leftover fabric scraps to make fabric twine! 

Rooterville, A Sanctuary, is located near Gainesville, Florida, about one and a half hours from Jacksonville, Florida (where The Girls Gone Green is headquartered). 

So, we grabbed our boots and our friends, and our friends of friends and hit the road to tour the sanctuary and lend a hand for the day! 

But let's back up a bit. What exactly is Rooterville? 
Rooterville was founded in 2004 by Elaine West. The sanctuary, sprawling 30-acres of land, tucked away in a secluded area, truly is that – not only a sanctuary in the sense of a place for rescued animals to live, but a place that all beings, can come and reflect and enjoy sentient beings and serene landscape. The animals roam freely amongst the property.
Today, more than 300 animals call the sanctuary home, including pot-bellied and farm pigs, goats, turkeys, chickens, cows, dogs and cats!

There’s even a butterfly garden, planted in honor of Stella, the first farm pig that came to live at Rooterville. Stella fell from a truck on her way to a slaughter house. She died in 2014, but got to experience what life was like away from cruel factory farm conditions.

The animals who come to the sanctuary are often abused, abandoned or neglected. Many of the residents are former “teacup pigs” who end up growing much larger than the breeder promised. Teacup pigs are a myth. In order for the pigs to stay small, breeders will recommend virtually starving the pigs. (Read more about teacup pigs here).
Other pigs end up at the sanctuary for various reasons. Space and mischievousness, not to mention home owners association rules and zoning laws are just some of the reasons pigs end up at the sanctuary. Pigs can be difficult to care for, if you don’t know what you’re in for. With the intelligence equivalent to a 3-year-old child, a pig’s lifespan is about 20 years and they aren’t fully grown until they are three years old.

Watch this short video to learn more about the sanctuary! 

We spent the day helping fluff hay in shelter areas and place fresh, new hay where needed. You see, the pigs like the hay "just so." And we were warned not to be too surprised if while poking at the hay, a pig or two might rise out of hiding. The hay-laying was in preparation for a cold snap. (Yes, for all those not from the Sunshine State, it does indeed dip into freezing temps in Northeast Florida!) Gotta keep those piggies warm! ​​

The pigs like the hay piled high on the sides and back of the enclosures so they can dive head first into the piles and nestle down for the night.

It's not just pigs who call Rooterville home. The sanctuary also has rescue goats, turkeys, chickens, dogs, cows and more! Click here to read more animal stories!  ​

We had a great day at the sanctuary and hope you visit it sometime soon or support the sanctuary with monetary or physical donations. The sanctuary is always looking for volunteers! ​

 Become a Rooterville member
Make a monetary donation 
​Sponsor an animal 
​Volunteer at the sanctuary

Pig Yoga at Rooterville! Jan. 6, 2018 from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Tickets are $15 pp. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit the Facebook event page. Space is limited; must RSVP.

Rooterville is located at 5579 Darwood St., Melrose, FL 32666. For more information, call (386) 661-2287, email elaine@rooterville.org or visit www.rooterville.org. 

2007 - The Girls Gone Green was established:

The Girls Gone Green is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring environmental, animal and health issues. We have seen positive change being made in our community since 2007 as people continue to build happier and healthier lives. Your support is crucial to this change and by working together we can put sustainable, humane and healthier choices in front of people who help shape our community! 

2010 - The first Annual Northeast Florida Veg Fest:​

The first Northeast Florida Veg Fest, presented by The Girls Gone Green, took place at Riverside Park in 2010. It opened to an attendance of about 2,500 people and organized a community hungry for change. The 7th Annual Northeast Florida Veg Fest will take place March 3, 2018 with an expected attendance of 10,000 people! Our veg fest has been instrumental in watching eco-friendly and compassionate businesses develop and grow in Jacksonville. It helped to unify a veg community and allow our voices to be heard throughout the year.

2011 - The first Annual No Meat March:

The first No Meat March took place in March of 2011. It was created to invite those curious about exploring a plant-based diet to sign a pledge for 31-days and forgo meat during the month of March. In its first year, No Meat March touted about 500 participates who were sent daily emails with recipes, information and guidance. In 2013, just two years later, No Meat March went international with little to no advertising budget. Now people from all over the world sign up for the challenge reaching thousands of homes.

2013 - Launch of new logo & new website:
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The new logo showcases all the causes near and dear to the hearts of its core group. It symbolizes the connectivity between animals, people, food choices and the health of the planet. The heart in the center represents the love and compassion needed towards each in order to achieve a healthier and happier lifestyle.
That same year, our brand new website was launched, including a blog, what the organization is about, and ways to get involved. Additionally, 2013 saw the launch of A G3 Affair, a monthly meet-up event.

2014 - Hang Up the Foam Campaign Launched:

The Girls Gone Green would like to see Jacksonville, Florida listed as a city that voluntarily bans the use of foam to-go containers. Through our Hang Up the Foam campaign, we are requesting businesses to seek out healthier alternatives while gaining support from their customers during this transition. We are currently reaching out to the restaurant industry in hopes of working together to eliminate EPS foam due to its high probability of leaking known carcinogens into the food. 

2015 - Stop the Bear Hunt:

On Sept. 24, 2015, exactly one month from Florida's controversial bear hunt, The Girls Gone Green organized the first press conference speaking out against the killing of bears. What happened on Oct. 24, 2015 was only the beginning. If we can't find room for 3,500 black bears now in a state that supports 19 million people, then what will happen as development continues? 

2017 - 10-Year Anniversary Party!
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We celebrated our 10-year anniversary Sept. 30 at Present Moment Cafe in St. Augustine, Florida! The night, which also served as a fundraiser for the organization, featured a silent auction, giveaways, our #NachoBar vegan nachos, a champagne toast and keepsake glass and other giveaways! We were joined by a few other local organizations who were on hand with information about their initiatives including EPIC Outreach, Sea Shepherd Jacksonville, Olsenhaus-Pure Vegan, and Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Inc. And the talented singer/songwriter Mere Woodard performed live.
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On Nov. 3, The Girls Gone Green toured Selphi Eco Salon in Jacksonville Beach to learn more about the salon's initiatives. 

Attendees had a chance to meet and hear from owner, Carisa Vaughn about her inspiration for making her business “green." She aims to be "the nation's most eco-friendly salon" while encouraging other businesses in the industry to go green and become more sustainable. 

Regular salons use harsh, environmentally-harming chemical treatments and copious amounts of water, detergent and energy to constantly wash and reuse towels and run lights, hairdryers and other electronic devices.​

Selphi employs 99 percent recycling procedures, recycling metal, plastic, hair dye and even hair itself! The hair is collected and shipped to a company who uses it to make hair booms which are used in the cleanup efforts for environmental disasters such as oil spills. And it's effective, too. Did you know that hair can hold up to five times its weight in oil?

​In lieu of reusable towels, which salons must constantly wash, dry and repeat, Selphi uses bio-degradable towels. 

Selphi Eco Salon uses and sells hair products by two eco-friendly manufacturers: Kevin.Murphy and Loma. The products are natural and cruelty-free!​

Kevin Murphy hair products are comprised of sustainably-sourced ingredients and are sulphate-free, paraben-free and cruelty-free! Additionally, Kevin Murphy bottles are box-shaped to reduce the amount of packing materials used in shipping their products. Loma produces natural hair care products that are paraben and gluten-free, sulfate-free and sodium-chloride-free.

The salon offers a “Choose to Reuse” promotion, where customers can save 20 percent off all retail purchases if they bring in their Kevin.Murphy or Loma bottles to be refilled.

!We had several requests to do another garden workshop after our May 20 Lazy Summer Food Gardening Workshop with Man in Overalls, so we put together a Fall Garden Workshop that took place Sept. 23 at Riverside Avondale Community Garden in Jacksonville!

Originally scheduled to take place Sept. 9, the workshop had to be rescheduled due to Hurricane Irma. 

According to Man in Overalls, aka Nathan Ballentine, fall is the easiest and most productive growing season of the year in Northeast Florida. The workshop focused on the fall/winter season (September through February) and served as an introduction to organic raised bed food gardening, but all levels of gardening experience were encouraged to come learn and ask questions. 

Cool season crops to plant:

• beets
• broccoli
• brussel sprouts
• cabbage
• carrots
• collards
• kale
• mustards
• onions - green & multipliers
• radishes
• sweet peas 
• shallots
• spinach
• lettuce
• arugula
• celery
• rutabags
• turnips
• strawberries
• sugar snap peas
• cauliflower
• chard
• parsley
• cilantro 
• oregano
• dill
• fennel 

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Ballentine is an urban farmer, entrepreneur, educator and community organizer in Jacksonville. He encourages the community to plant "urban gardens" and maintains that only a small amount of space is needed to grow a large amount of food, something he promotes as #GrowYourOwnGroceries.

As a demonstration, he brings a small raised garden bed. Using a technique based on "The Square Foot Gardening Method," he shows attendees how much they can plant in 1 sq. ft. (12 x 12 inches), to underscore the notion that anyone – even those tight on space – can plant gardens if they so choose. 

Organic gardening includes natural pest control such as using diatomaceous earth, a naturally occurring siliceous sedimentary rock. Planting flowers, such as marigolds, can also help keep pests at bay, as will introducing beneficial insects such as lacewings or lady bugs which feed on common plant pests. 

In his most recent blog post, "Why Can I Eat Bread in France but Not the USA?," Ballentine focuses on the dangers of the weed-killer Roundup. Click here to read the blog in its entirety. 

To see a full list of resources from Man in Overalls, click here. In addition to Gardening 101 and pest management, you’ll find other resources including recommended farming books, links to food gardening videos, and more.

Man in Overalls offers many services including consultations. Site visits can be scheduled and can include design help, garden bed building and installation, installation of micro irrigation systems, planting, and additional maintenance and education. Ballentine also sells a special growing medium blend called “Magic Mix.” To see a full list of services, click here.
 
Keep up with Man in Overalls by following his blog at maninoveralls.blogspot.com or follow Man in Overalls on Facebook @maninoveralls or Instagram @man.in.overalls. Ballentine can be reached by phone at (850) 322-0749 or via email at maninoveralls@gmail.com.

Riverside Avondale Community Garden, the location for the past two garden workshops, opened in April 2016 and is located on the corner of Park Street and Azalea Terrace, near the Willowbranch Library.

Gardeners pay a yearly fee for individual plots.

For more information about the community garden, contact Riverside Avondale Preservation by calling (904) 389-2449 or email info@riversideavondale.org.

Oh my, is this what vegan heaven looks like? Go Max Go  has a variety of products to appease your sweet tooth, offering vegan versions of your favorite candy bars!
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• Jokerz (like Snickers)
• Twilight (like Milky Way)
• Mahalo (like Mounds)

Cleo's - "milk" chocolate or white chocolate peanut butter cups
Thumb's Up (like Butterfingers)
Snap! - (like Nestle Crunch) 
2-fer - (like Twix)
Buccaneer (like 3 Musketeers) 

It's unreal! UnReal brand candy offers vegan-friendly sweets made from organic and sustainable ingredients. 

Products:

Peanut Butter Cups: 
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
Crispy Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Chocolate Gems:
Milk Chocolate Gems
Dark Chocolate Peanut Gems
​Dark Chocolate Crispy Quinoa Gems

Annie's Homegrown offers a number of vegan and organic items including gelatin-free fruit snacks and cookies. 
Bunny Patch Fruit Snacks flavors include: grape, strawberry, tropical, citrus, berry and pink lemonade. For Halloween, there's organic Bunnies & Bats Berry Fruit Snacks in berry patch fun-sized packs. 

Annie's also offers a line of vegan, bite-sized cookies including: Organic Chocolate Chip Bunny Grahams, Gluten-Free SnickerDoodle Bunny Cookies, and Gluten-Free Cocoa & Vanilla Bunny Cookies. 

Bonus! Annie's Homegrown uses 100 percent recycled paperboard! 

Dark Chocolate Dream Bars are dairy-free chocolate bars made by The Hein Celestial Group and are usually pretty easy to find at most grocery stores. Chocolate bar flavors include: Pure Dark, Almond, Rice Crunch, and Creamy Sweet.

Eat chocolate and do good at the same tim? Win! Endangered Species Chocolate donates 10 percent of its net profits to species and habitat conservation. 

Endangered Species Chocolate is an American-made chocolate that uses fair trade beans from West Africa sourced from sustainable farming practices. The chocolate bars and chocolate bark are all natural and select flavors are certified vegan and organic. 

Vegan, organic and gluten-free candy. Yum Earth's mission is to use the simplest flavors, colors and ingredients and steer clear from artificial ingredients. Look for organic pops, gummy bears, bats and jack-o'-lanterns, licorice, fruit snacks and candy corn. Yum!

Made'casse (pronounced Mah-day-kas) is an old French word for Madagascar, where Made'casse products, such as chocolate and vanilla, are made. Made'casse's mission is to make chocolate entirely in Madagasgar to hep increase the local economy and support local farmers. 

The chocolate bars are vegan, but may contain traces of milk from equipment so they are not suitable for people with dairy allergies. Chocolate bar flavors include: Sea Slat & Nibs Dark Chocolate, Mint Crunch Dark Chocolate, Salted Almond Dark Chocolate, Pure Dark Chocolate Bar, and more! 

A recent visit to South Florida revealed what's happening in Hendry County should not only concern Florida citizens but put this state and others on high alert. Government secrecy, animal torture, improper land use, business cover-ups and scare tactics all sound like a best-selling conspiracy book. However it's not - it's real and it's been happening right under our noses for the past 15 years!

Close to 100 people showed up for the Commissioner's meeting on Tuesday, January 12th in Hendry County. Those confronting the Commissioners included concerned people who live near the facility and others who traveled quite a distance to speak out against these businesses housing thousands of monkeys. Many of the monkeys were torn from their families in the wild! Why the sudden outcry? Great question! It's because some of these facilities have been in this very rural and poor Florida county for almost two decades with few people aware of their existence. The operations were cloaked in secrecy so no one really knew what was happening on this property! Neighbors and citizens were never alerted to the fact that County leaders planned to expand these monkey testing businesses allowing for FOUR different companies to operate in South Florida.

Side note: if this expansion goes through, Hendry County could house up to 10,000 monkeys, making it a hub in the nation’s supply chain.

A few things happened that blew the lid on government's big secret. It began with the discovery of the secret approval for two more businesses to open its doors. Then, a whistle-blower who worked at one of the facilities - Primate Products, Inc. came forward and shared horrific details of what this company was doing to sentient, emotional and highly intelligent monkeys. The former vet tech, David Roebuck stated workers at Primate Products’ “Panther Tracks” facility located near Immokalee were regularly told to perform C-section abortions on pregnant female monkeys, remove the dead fetus, then package it for sale to buyers. Roebuck said milk was then extracted from the female cytomologus monkeys using human breast pumps. The milk  was then sold to laboratories.

This is where improper land use comes in on this issue. The more than 600-acre property is agriculturally zoned for animal husbandry. If the company is conducting animal tests or experiments it is violating the agricultural zoning code. But, they have a way around this in their amazing game of semantics. The owner of Primate Products, Inc. can just say all those invasive procedures listed above are "standard usage" and not "experiments."

When you really begin to dig into this issues, you will find all kinds of links between government and business with little regard given to public safety and health. People living in close proximity this property now have to worry about water contamination, monkeys escaping and the possibility of an Ebola outbreak.

The Girls Gone Green spoke at the Commissioner's meeting letting them know that what they are doing has captured the attention of citizens from all over Florida. We all need to be concerned with what is happening in Hendry County because the risk to our health and morals does not stay confined to county lines.

These facilities are not benefiting mankind. They are comprising our health, they are comprising our morals and they are comprising the integrity of Florida leaders. We have created a website - FREETHEMONKEYS.com dedicated to this cause. We will post upcoming meetings, protests, petitions, ways to help and more. We also have a Facebook page to keep everyone informed and up-to-date.

We are joining the fight to keep this issue in the spotlight! We want to draw as much national attention as possible and expose these businesses as unsafe and ineffective. We will speak out and organize high-profile ways to stop these facilities from coming to Florida.

You can help us! Join our mailing list and let us know you want to get involved. Donate to the cause so we can heighten our visibility and voice! We can make a difference, but not without your help. Stay tuned as we will reveal our next step very soon.

The Girls Gone Green is taking a road trip to Clewiston, Florida in an effort to shut down a facility that sells and torments live monkeys.

We will speak at a public meeting asking the Hendry County Board of Commissioners to revoke its approval for Primate Products, Inc and similar monkey facilities operating in the county.

An eyewitness investigation was recently conducted at Primate Products Inc. (PPI) and what they uncovered is horrific.

PPI is a notorious Hendry County, Florida, animal dealer that imports thousands of monkeys from China and Africa, imprisons them in decrepit conditions and performs invasive procedures—and sometimes kills them—to remove their bodily fluids, tissues and fetuses for sale.

Some of the monkeys are shipped to other laboratories for often painful and deadly experiments. The expose prompted federal authorities to open an investigation—which is ongoing—and cite PPI for more than two dozen violation of animal welfare laws including violently handling monkeys and failing to provide them with adequate veterinary care.

Hendry County is currently being sued for secretly and improperly approving several of these monkey warehouses, despite the significant environmental and public health and safety risks they pose.

If you can make it to Clewiston City Hall, 115 West Ventura Ave. Clewiston, FL, 33440 on Tuesday, January 12th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., please RSVP here.

We need people willing to hold signs before and during the meeting and even speak for 3 minutes giving a voice to those captive monkeys.