It is incredibly frustrating to be shopping for your favorite products, from food to clothing, and find that the packaging is non-recyclable.

This happens to me all the time, and I see it more and more as I learn about the recyclability of certain plastics. A company may be non-GMO, organic, fair-trade, etc. and yet their product comes shipped or wrapped in plastic wrap, packing peanuts, or other single-use plastics, all of which has to go right in the garbage. Groan!

I've taken this frustration and decided to reframe it. Instead of phasing out that product, I asked myself: why not send a friendly email to customer service and ask if they would consider more earth-friendly packaging options - either fully recyclable or compostable?
​
Then I thought, why not get a bunch of other earth-lovers on board? Then we all could send in an email on the same day and together we could put gentle pressure on the companies we love to do better. 

That's what #PackagingForThePlanet is all about. Woo!

The way #PackagingForThePlanet works is:

1. Officially join the movement by opting in below.
2. You'll get an email from me that asks what companies you love who you wish had better packaging options.
3. I will tally up the elected companies and get a schedule together for 2019.
4. Twice a month, on the 15th and the 30th, you will get an email from me with all the info you need to contact the elected company, including their email address and an email you can copy/paste to send them. 
5. ​You can then use the hashtag #PackagingForThePlanet on Instagram and Facebook and tag the elected company. Feel free to post in your feed or on your stories to engage with them on the certain products you love that have non-recyclable packaging.
6. *BONUS:* Anytime you run into non-recyclable or non-compostable packaging, hop on social medial and simply use the hashtag #PackagingForThePlanet, tag the company, and ask if they are considering better packaging options in the future. Remember to be friendly and open - you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. 

I love this because it requires only a few minutes of your time twice a month and together we have the potential to make a massive change for our planet. 

​My hope is that by putting well-meaning pressure on our favorite companies, we can nudge them to explore, and ultimately choose, better packaging products that are either universally recyclable (including #2 plastic, cardboard, paper, glass, and metal) or are fully compostable.

​When companies are receptive and open to change, we will ask them to take a #PackagingPledge where they openly share their plan and timeline to phase out non-recyclable items and what they hope to replace them with. As consumers, we will publicly hold them to that promise.

In the face of climate change, it's heartbreaking that our government is not taking action and making necessary changes. I've stopped counting on them and realized we have other options - ones that act faster and are much more willing to change. Let's look to the companies we love and ourselves to be the solution.

Are you ready to make some sustainable waves in the name of our planet in 2019?

With the UN climate report slating our point-of-no-return for global warming at 2040 and the US climate report coming in at 2030, we’ve got to work to make 2019 our most earth-friendly, sustainable year yet.

Unfortunately, both of these reports have led to some proposed solutions that are downright scary, like spraying sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere to dampen the heating capacity of the sun. The scientists behind this ludicrous idea call it geoengineering. The potential environmental fallout from this solution is so catastrophic that, to be frank, our planet being wiped out by climate change is a much more merciful end.

Why is it we don’t see more calls to action for the general public? Our climate change issues are driven by industry led by consumption. Consumers run the show. The sooner we can get to work on ourselves and our own habits, the sooner we can see mass shifts for the health of our planet.

So before we dive in, serious gold stars for you because you are taking the time to understand how you can be a part of the solution (and a positive not-scary solution at that). Before we continue, be sure to give yourself a mental (or physical!) pat on the back for caring and wanting to do better. Earth lovers rock!

​Alright, here are the top six ways you can make 2019 your most earth-friendly and sustainable year yet.

Here at Green Willow Homestead, it’s important for us to take the time to look back on the year. There were so many gains and pains we experienced on our farm and in life during 2018. I want to share them with you in hopes that you can learn from our mistakes and take joy in our successes. Living sustainably, farming regeneratively, and being a crazy chicken momma takes a village - so don’t hesitate to reach out if any of these reflections hit home for you.

Guess what?! A new episode of the Positively Green Podcast just dropped! I am so excited for today's episode because Becca and I talk about all things plastic. 

This episode is for you if:

• You wonder what is and isn’t truly recyclable when it comes to plastic.
• You are confused on what are all the different types of plastic.
•  You know some are “bad” for you, like BPA, but you want to know why.
• You want five easy ways to go plastic-free starting today. 

​I love this episode because it’s short, it’s actionable, and it’s empowering. All the things that make our podcast a keeper! Listen in by clicking the player below. You can also listen in on iTunes, Spotify, or Libsyn at the links below.

The buzz phrase "closed-loop cycle" has been popping up more and more in mainstream culture and it pleases me to no end. Why?​ The more the public becomes aware of this concept, the faster we can work towards curbing climate change. This is because the principles behind closed-loop cycles are inherently better for our health, the earth's wellbeing, and keep us more connected to our local ecosystems.

​So this begs the question, what exactly is a closed-loop cycle?

In this post we are going to go over the sustainable and zero-waste options you have for your menstruation cycle.

In my last post, I explained why switching to these options is so important for our health and the earth's health. Be sure to pop over to that post if you haven't gotten a chance to read it yet!

There are three options at your fingertips to complete a zero-waste and non-toxic period - the cup,  absorbable washable undies, and washable pads. Let's go over all three in depth and talk about their learning curves as well!

In this episode, we’ll be talking all about how you can navigate the fashion industry when it comes to sustainable brands, materials, and fast fashion.

We are so excited to have our first guest on the show. Her name is Marissa Biese and she is a dear friend of Becca's. They actually met on Instagram of all places. Like Kelsey and Becca, Marissa also lives in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. She’s a dog mom, photographer, and blogs about many aspects of living a more waste-free life, from eco fashion, to plastic-free products, to eco-friendly pet supplies. She is one of Becca's go-to resources for learning about sustainable fashion and shares a ton of awesome brands that are doing great things for the environment.

​Extra Tidbits:
Marissa's Website The Greener Girl
The True Cost Documentary

Well hello my fellow bleeders! Who’s excited to talk all things menstruation? The topic of your period and how to approach it with a zero-waste mindset can be super overwhelming. There are multiple points to consider when working towards a low to no-waste and toxin-free option for feminine care and your cycle.

I want you to take a deep breath and know it has taken me nearly a YEAR to finally get to a zero-waste period. I had done all this research, bought all the things, and then had to get through the last of my disposables before trying (and failing) for a few cycles to get to a no-waste solution.

Please oh please be patient with yourself. Don’t force yourself into a sustainable solution that doesn’t work for you because then it’s not truly sustainable! We often forget on this sustainable living journey that our own emotions and willpower require a sustainable mindset as well. Cultivate kindness and patience with yourself as you try out the following various zero-waste menstruation options.

In this first post, we will go over conventional products, like tampons and pads, and the significant issues they pose for our bodies and the environment. Then in my next post, we will chat about the zero-waste options you can use instead. Finally in the last post of this series, I’ll share some awesome zero-waste and toxin-free pain management tips for your monthly visitor.

First, though, I need to teach you about your mother of all souls, ahem, I mean vagina.

I am overjoyed to announce that my first ebook is now available for purchase! If you've been wanting to learn how to easily detox your home, live more sustainably, and make more eco-friendly purchases for the planet - this book is for you.

For the last three years, I researched, wrote, designed, and photographed the book while maintaining my farm and running a photography business. It's been a huge undertaking, but so worth it because I know you are going to be inspired and motived to detox your home and do more to help the earth when you read it!

Today we’re going to have a conversation all about greenwashing. You may or may not have heard this term used before; and in our opinion it’s something that most people fall victim to when trying to switch to a greener lifestyle!

Tune in to this episode and learn how to spot the signs, understand what terms are used and what they mean, and how to properly vet companies and products to see if they are truly sustainable and non-toxic.