Green Patchwork

Mind mapping is a radial rather than linear method of brainstorming and problem solving. I have done my own mind mapping in the past, but they were very rudimentary and sketchy. If you google ‘mind map’ and search through the images you will find a creative and colorful collection of various mind maps. Through my image search I found a mind map relating to global warming and the various solutions, problems, and issues surrounding this global issue. I hope this inspires you to create and explore your own mind maps.

Many years ago I decided to wrap all of my X-mas gifts in decorative scarves and fabrics, and I was thought of as an extreme environmentalist. But now if I wrap a gift in fabric or a fancy silk scarf most people appreciate the extra attention to their gift and think i’m being creative (and not just a crazy hippie).

I love receiving gifts wrapped in unique fabrics and luckily the trend has picked up speed. I was just browsing the Inhabitat site and found a posting on silk scarves being sold as something to wrap gifts in, similar to a furoshiki. I hope you don’t start thinking you have to only use fancy silk scarves as wrapping material, because you can use any interesting fabric that you find to wrap a gift. Check out thrift stores or buy a yard of fabric at the craft stores to use for wrapping a present. Handkerchiefs and bandannas work great too and are always appreciated when someone catches a cold.

I bet you’re wondering what AA stands for. It’s not what you think. As I was wandering around online I found Anti-Apathy, a London blog that promotes and supports people who take creative approaches to social and environmental issues. I like their name and their seriousness.  When you have a good chunk of time browse their site and see what they are up to.

As consumers, we work a lot and spend a lot and feel as though we don’t have much time for anything else. As a student I live quite frugally, but it fits my lifestyle and gives me more time for reading, crafting, snuggling with my sweetie, blogging, or spending time outdoors. I want to live with less so I don’t have to work more and my home is clutter-free.

I found others online with similar ideas, The Frugal Life and The Cheapskate Guide. Living with less does not always equal poverty. Life can be quite full and satisfying if your basic needs are met and your soul is nurtured.

There are many resources available to us about everything we might want to know or learn about. I was just reminded of another good resource to add to my blog, Grist Environmental News. The link brings you to an interesting article which brings up the issue of greenwashing.

I just found an interesting site while surfing around, Be Green Shop Green. Its loaded with good information and its easy to read.

I just recently found this neat site, Sustainable Style Foundation, full of fashion, trends, designers, and new materials for the eco-aware. I found it while I was looking around online for possible internship opportunities for this summer. Well, I didn’t find any good internship leads, but I did find a ton of other information. I also found a 20 minute video called “The Story of Stuff”. After I found it I sent the link to all of my friends and family to help spread the word about the real cost of all the stuff out there. If everyone watched 20 minutes less t.v. or surfed online 20 minutes less then they would have enough time to fit the video in. Please give it a watch and pass it on.

We all like to get new stuff, but I don’t think buying brand new stuff is always the best way to go about it. I love to get new stuff, but I also love thrift shopping and the challenge of finding what I want somewhere other than the big box stores. Read the rest of this entry »

This is my very first post to my very first blog! I am excited to have a little space of my own to call home on the world wide web. Please come in and make yourselves at home. I will try to accommodate you as much as possible; whether it be fashion, gardening, home remodeling, or anything else having to do with global sustainability I aim to have it on the menu. And now, ladies and gentlemen, for my first post I would like to introduce one of my favorite sites, a site packed with lots of fun and adventure…..treehugger.com