• Home
  • About Us
    • #NachoBar
  • Events
  The Girls Gone Green

Green Guide to Back to School (and beyond)

7/17/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Back to school is fast approaching! Did you know that many school supplies have an eco-friendly counterpart? Does your child take their lunch to school? Have you ever wondered how you could make packed lunches greener or find yourself in desperate need of healthy lunch ideas?  

Then take a look at our Green Guide to Back to School for tips! This guide isn't just for grade schoolers. College students need school supplies and meal-time inspiration as well, and reusable containers, utensils and straws aren't just for students, they're great for work or take-out too!

Read More
0 Comments

Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap Ideas

12/13/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
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! 

Furoshiki (traditional Japanese wrapping cloth)

PictureLush also sells pre-fabric-wrapped packaged gifts in store and online.
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. 

Picture
Fabric scarfs sold by Lush for gift wrapping are either made from organic cotton or from two recycled plastic bottles!

Holiday Wrapping Hacks from "Good Housekeeping"





​Try these holiday wrapping hacks from "Good Housekeeping." 

  • Reuse a clean chip bag and wrap the gift shiny side out.

  • Turn paper grocery bags inside-out and wrap.
​
  • Repurpose an aluminum foil holder to package homemade cookies (or use a Mason jar or reusable tin!)
​




​

Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping Ideas from OLIO

Use what you have lying around the house such as old magazines, newspapers, maps, sheet music or book pages. 

Add a touch of the outdoors by wrapping gifts in leaves or putting a sprig of greenery as an accent. 

Or wrap your gifts within another gift such as a fabulous tea towel or stylish reusable napkin!

Upcycled Gift Wrap Ideas from HGTV





Learn how to repurpose empty food canisters, paper towel rolls, old t-shirts, socks, 6-pack holders, used jars, and more! Skip the cellophane wrap suggested for the jar gift and just tie a cute ribbon around the lid!

Repurposed Cereal Boxes

Picture


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




... or wrap the recycled cereal boxes in newspaper (like this idea from Too-Much-Time.com) or any other repurposed item that strikes your fancy! 
Picture
Picture




​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!

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! 
Picture
0 Comments

5 Easy Tips to Growing Your Own Food

6/18/2014

3 Comments

 

by Julie Watkins

Growing food.

Humans have been gardening since the dawn of civilization so by now there must be some instinct built into all of us. And besides, when you are reaching out to your constructive and creative primal state you are waking things inside of you that have been asleep for far too long. I think that's why gardening has so many health benefits like relieving stress, improving mental health and physical well-being.

If people were successful at planting and growing food thousands of years ago what makes you think you can't do it today given ALL of the freaking resources available to you 24-7? FYI, way back when, they managed to grow food just fine without all the toxic, polluting, soil-eroding, water and air contaminating, bee- and baby-killing chemicals so ORGANIC, ORGANIC, ORGANIC is the way you were meant to grow food. And the current state of your health is there to confirm that statement.

Reasons To Grow Your Own Food:

  • Save money
  • Increase your food security
  • Avoid deadly chemicals
  • Save energy
  • Improve your health through better nutrition
  • Prevent Monsanto from patenting and owning your food
  • Connect to yourself through nature
  • Prevent soil erosion
  • Tastes better
  • Improve the planet's health
  • Protect future generations
  • Save the bees
I am definitely no expert on gardening, heck, I've only been doing it for a few months. However, I am good at taking something that might seem overwhelming and complex and JUST DOING IT! (For example, I'm not very good at blogging as it takes me a long time to write just one measly blog, but here I am). You want to learn how to swim, you jump in a pool. You want to learn guitar, you get a guitar. You want to grow your own food, you get seeds, dirt and a pot. Keep it basic. But, like everything else that matters in life, it takes a little patience, a willingness to make mistakes and a determination to keep trying.
Picture
Picture

1.

Don't Overthink It!

Picture
Thinking about where to start for too long just might stop you dead in your tracks. You may begin to ponder things such as growing seasons, what will and won't grow in your region, whether or not to try companion planting, what insect repellants to use, etc.

I'm not saying don't be prepared, but just find a fruit or veggie you like to eat and plant the damn thing. It'll take  a while to grow and bear fruit, during which time you can "dig" a little deeper into the dos and don'ts of what you just planted. Your knowledge will "grow" along with your new plant, ha!

Now, isn't that much better than thinking you have to know-it-all before you can begin this journey into green thumbland?


There's just
no need to overcomplicate how a seed buried in the soil basking in the sun getting watered from time to time begins to grow. It just happens so begin right there.


Picture
Lettuce is by far the easiest thing I have grown to date. Well, that and basil - they both grow great in pots! I planted 4 groups of seeds in which 3 sprouted quickly. The fourth took a while, but it's now caught up and filling in quite nicely.
Picture
After just a few weeks, I have fresh greens that I can now add to any salad, smoothie, sandwich, juice, etc. Minimal effort required!

2.

Gather Your Supplies

Picture
Gardening is pretty inexpensive to do even BEFORE you've bought the organic seeds. Don't want to buy seeds? Then just remove the seeds from your produce and use those.

Now run to the store and get a pot or two, some dirt, (rocks, if your pots DO NOT have holes in them) and perhaps a little shovel and watering can. Well, lookie there, you've got everything you could possibly need to grow some fantastic food!

3.

Get Dirty

Picture
Now rip open that big bag of dirt and get ready to dig in! If your pots DO NOT have holes, then place a layer of rocks at the bottom. This will allow for the water to drain.

Otherwise, fill the pot with dirt and read the directions on your seed packet to find out how deep to plant your seed. It could be from 1 inch to 1/8 inch. Throw them seeds on in there, cover and water.

Now brace yourself, the fun is just about to start!

4.

Check On It Frequently

Picture
Plants have feelings, too, you know, so check on them now and then. (They don't really, but they do respond to energy so talking to them or wishing them well doesn't hurt one bit. And, this is a great way to get your neighbors to leave you alone.)

Just make sure your new friends are getting enough sun and water. I would recommend watering them once a day unless the soil feels damp to the touch, then let it dry out a bit.

5.

Live and Learn

Picture
You've made a huge mistake? Good! Congrats, you just got in touch with your human side and you learned what not to do. That's just as valuable as learning the right way to do it. Did you accidentally grow some weeds like I did (see below)? Did your leaves turn white and all wilty?

Well, just try to diagnose the problem and then do it all over again. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, you have resources available to you 24-7: YouTube, garden clubs, community gardens. store clerks, social media, books and more. The universe will not let you fail as growing food has never been easier to figure out than right here, right now. And since you're not going anywhere anytime soon, grab those seeds and refer to step 1!


Picture
I planted wheatgrass here, but now I'm thinking I've been tending to and nurturing weeds for the last few weeks. It doesn't look like the wheatgrass I'm used to seeing which is thinner and a brighter green. But, that's a damn fine pot of luscious weeds.
Picture
I have a plot in an organic community garden where I planted these beans. I find growing items in pots at home easier only because I can check on them more often. Here, it seems something got to the leaves. Apparently, spraying a concoction of water and biodegradable liquid dish soap is all it needs. I recommend Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps.

I love this website because it lets you know when produce is in season in your state! Do you have a favorite fruit or vegetable, and you'd love to get it fresh and local, but you don't know when it is normally harvested in your area?  Then you are in luck: click the button below to get the United States first national crop harvest calendars.
Click here for the CROP CALENDAR >>
3 Comments

One Spark: Please Help Us To Succeed

4/2/2014

0 Comments

 

by Julie Watkins

Picture
Picture
Our nonprofit has seen tremendous growth over these last few years which is an amazing feat considering it is run by a small group of volunteers already dedicated to full-time careers. We've seen what we can accomplish given limited resources and time and now we are ready to see what good things we can do given the opportunity. Successes in our events like Northeast Florida Veg Fest and No Meat March get bigger and bigger each year and we need to build on that momentum and mobilize people throughout the year. We are hoping by entering One Spark we can do the unimaginable here in our little corner of the world and forever change the landscape of Florida, figuratively and literally.

We want to host an effective Southeast Conference that will accomplish positive changes in three main areas: the environment, animals and our health. In order to succeed we will be reaching out to leaders, activists, civil servants, lawmakers, city organizers and people hungry for change inviting them to gather in Jacksonville, Florida in 2015. If change is going to happen, we need to demand it, our voices need to be unified and strong and we can do that by connecting and stay connected year after year. The goals of the conference are:
  • To exchange information and connect with leaders and their members in an effort to grow our combined network list exponentially.
  • To build morale and show individuals that hundreds of other people are fighting for similar causes.
  • To solve problems that have gained traction in other cities/states and determine the most effective way to translate those successes in other regions.
  • To initiate policy on key issues that will be followed and carried out by all participating organizations, businesses and individuals.
  • To execute a 5-year business plan that will tackle the most pressing causes facing the Southeast.
  • To designate time periods in each of the five years that will be devoted to one particular cause and then work together towards its resolution.
  • To inspire continued efforts in establishing local and statewide change year round.
  • To share success stories over the course that the 5-year business plan is in effect.

Picture
The first Northeast Florida Veg Fest was hosted in Riverside Park in 2010. It opened to an attendance of about 2,500 people and organized a community hungry for change.

Now in its fourth year, the Veg Fest draws a crowd of 8,000 and 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.

Picture
The first No Meat Make 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.


What are the most pressing issues facing us in the Southeast? Here is our preliminary list, but we plan to build on this once a survey is collected from all the potential participants.

1. To replace unhealthy, high-fat foods in public school lunches with healthier, yet delicious options.
2. To help steer industry away from single-use plastics and Styrofoam.
3. To remove greyhound racing from the gambling industry.
4. To phase out inherently cruel delicacies which are foie gras and veal.
5. To see an end to the use of electrical prods and bull hooks on animals.
6. To even the playing field and end bait and canned hunting.
7. To protect our health and drinking water by ending water fluoridation.
8. To minimize harmful environmental practices in businesses looking to get established in the Southeast.


Submit your idea for an environmental, animal or health issue that should be addressed >>
Please, won't you join us on our journey? Continue to follow The Girls Gone Green while we try and solve the many environmental, animal and health problems by proposing viable solutions that can be adopted on a city and state level.

1. Register on the One Spark website or APP - it's FREE

2.
Bookmark The Girls Gone Green project
(#20336)

3.
Come on out and VOTE from April 9th through April 13th!

Picture
Picture
Picture

COME CHECK OUT OUR FAST PITCH
@ ONE SPARK


WHEN: FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

TIME: 6:30PM

WHERE: HEMMING PLAZA, 135 MONROE STREET WEST, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32202

Picture
Help us get to where we want to go and come hear us pitch our idea now that we are an official One Spark creator!

On Friday, April 11th at 6:30 p.m. in Hemming Plaza, Julie Watkins, Executive Director of The Girls Gone Green will take the stage for a brief 5 minutes to try and convince you why our nonprofit deserves to be awarded.


If you can't make our pitch no worries, we will be out there all day Wednesday through Sunday (April 9-13) at Main Street Park! Please swing by our tent, take pics with our mascots, try some free samples and most importantly - VOTE FOR OUR PROJECT!

What sets your Project apart from what is currently available?

Not many organizations fight for healthy eating habits and protection of the environment and animals as passionately as we do. We are a volunteer-run organization working with a limited budget. Successes include the growth of our Northeast Florida Veg Fest every year since 2010, turning our local campaign, No Meat Meat, into an international initiative, raising awareness about health and nutrition, phasing out Styrofoam in restaurants at the beaches and more. We are ready to take these wins and experience gained to a bigger platform which will make an even bigger difference.

Why are you and your team the best people on the planet to handle this project?

We are driven by our hearts and our need to make our community better, cleaner, healthier and more humane. Five ladies have been able to effectively tackle issues that come with a lot of stigma, and we've done it with a positive attitude. We have seen our local community transform since starting our nonprofit and we are ready to spread that transformation beyond our city limits.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP TO THE ONE SPARK PITCH!

0 Comments

    The GGG

    A blog dedicated to exploring environmental, animal and health issues.

    Archives

    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    July 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    January 2016
    July 2015
    September 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    Categories

    All
    Animal Rights
    Beauty Products
    Campaign
    Chemicals
    Cleanse
    Coconut Oil
    Conference
    Crowd-funding
    Detox
    DIY
    Environment
    Fit
    Garden
    Gardening
    Growing
    Hang Up The Foam
    Health
    Healthy
    Jacksonville
    Julie Watkins
    Lamb
    Leather
    Logo
    Natural Remedies
    No Meat Athlete
    No Meat March
    Non-gmo
    Northeast Florida
    One Spark
    Organic
    Organize
    Restaurant
    Simple
    Styrofoam
    The Chat
    The Girls Gone Green
    To Go Containers
    To-go Containers
    Vegan
    Vegan Health And Body
    Vegetarian
    Veg-friendly
    Vhab
    Workout

    RSS Feed

The Girls Gone Green l PO Box 331745 l Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 l The Girls Gone Green © 2020
  • Home
  • About Us
    • #NachoBar
  • Events