Here is a quick recap of some of this last years top environmental stories.  These are just a few of the stories that had an impact on me.   Fukushima power plant meltdown.   Extreme weather patterns increase.   The world population hits seven billion people.   House republicans target EPA and environmental, regulations seeking [...]

Have a Green Holiday and Support Green Handmade! Shop: Bululustudio Promotion: Clearance Section (everything must go) Start Date: Dec. 1st End Date: Dec. 31st   Shop: lmdesigns Promotion: Free Shipping on all orders Start Date: Dec. 1st End Date: Dec. 31st Shop: LindaEve Promotion: Free Domestic Shipping – coupon code is SHIPFREE Start Date: Dec. 11th End Date: [...]

CONGRATULATIONS!! We have TWO winners for Tim Adam’s book, “How to Make Money Using Etsy” And they are……   CONGRATULATIONS! Tammy and Lisa Griffin Please contact Karen in 48 hours to receive your books.   Thank You all for participating!

This week’s themed nomination is August Celebrations! August may be the only month without a U.S. holiday, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t alot to celebrate! This month we have National Watermelon Day, National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, Picnic Day (Australia), Wiggle Your Toes Day (I am thinking this must be a celebration of bare [...]

Forty years ago this month approx. 400,000 people converged on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in the town of Bethel, New York. The 3 day concert called Woodstock would become an iconic event in the 60′s hippie counterculture movement and this movement went on to have a large influence on the green movement that we are [...]

Tutorial submitted by Picnic Basket Crafts Today I have a no-sew, no-glue, no-tape, no-staple alternative utilizing some simple folds to make a self-locking envelope. You can use it to package soap, jewelry, potato chips, a book, pretty much anything! The decorative paper and glue stick are optional. Frankly, you don’t even really need the scissors. [...]

Eco tip submitted by Leatherwood Designs Native plants are those that existed within your state or local area prior to the arrival of settlers. They are great for the environment because they have evolved and adapted to the hot, dry summers and/ or icy cold winters of the local climate over thousands of years. Incredible [...]

Wow, I really lit a fire under our team this week! Who knew everyone felt so strongly about picnics. I received so many responses and a ton of great nominees! Even people who aren’t on the team, yet, sent in nominations! I had to narrow it down to only a few, but it was a [...]

Eco tip submitted by Sand & Sky Creations When shopping for your groceries check out what is available from local farmers first. The farmer’s market is a great place to start! The food will be much fresher and more nutritious because it hasn’t had to travel a long distance to reach you, the consumer. Plus [...]

Eco tip submitted by SpaGoddess My gorgeous & magically green-thumbed Great-Grandmother taught us to feed our old coffee grounds to the roses! Roses love the acid, plus the strongly scented grounds help keep the pests at bay….. And, according to Cosmos, apparenty Coffeee Grounds could make a new biofuel turned into biodiesel & fuel pellets. [...]

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue… Well, it must be vacation week in Eco Etsy land! Either that or everyone is at a wedding This week’s winner is the gorgeous sea glass necklace above made by oceano. It was nominated by Megan of GreenVioletVintage who says she is going to be a bridesmaid [...]

Recipe submitted by SewnNatural Eco Picnic Blanket by SewnNatural As a mom of a toddler, I’m always on the look-out for quick, delicious and nutritious recipes I can whip up to spice up our meal routine. I now have a great tool to help me do that – a book by Cynthia Lair called “Feeding [...]

So, yesterday was Mother’s Day here in France, which explains why I’m blogging a little later than normal for this week’s themed nomination. I hope no one was waiting too long in anticipation In honor of this month’s American Father’s Day, I thought we could devote this week to all the Papas out there. So [...]

After returning from Rome this week and also having my mother and sister visit me in France, I dedicate this week’s Themed Nomination to vacations! Trekking through the cobblestone and rubble of Rome, I really could have used these great travel size body scrubs by SpaGoddess to refresh, replenish and rejuvenate at the end of [...]

Recipe submitted by Leatherwood Designs. Visit the Leatherwood Designs blog. Great Grains Pancake Mix Prepare this whole grain pancake mix and enjoy easy breakfasts for weeks to come. By making your own pancake mix you can save money and reduce packaging waste. Plus you can make it wholesome! INGREDIENTS5 cups oatmeal flour (make your own [...]

Eco tip submitted by StrandRedesign. Make the most of your lawn mowings. Did you know that grass cut from your lawn is a valuable source of nutrients for your vegetable patch? Not only is it a quick eco-friendly fertilizer quite like chicken manure, mulched around youtr veggies, it provides moisture retention, weed suppression and encouragement of beneficial [...]

Thank you to everyone who sent in their nominations. This week’s theme is “Graduation Inspiration” and this week’s winners are:This awesome vintage bowling bag by VivienCheng was hand painted with love! It’s retro-futuristic motif design was inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey. Any grad would be moving on out and up with style with this [...]

Eco tip submitted by winkydinks Ways to minimize your laundry impact: 1. Wash on cold – most items wash up well with cold water (even if they say “warm”) 2. Use natural detergent (or at least phosphate free) – or make your own! 3. Use wool dryer balls* instead of fabric sheets (or use 1/3 [...]

Tutorial submitted by winkydinks I came across these recipes on diaperswappers, in the Green Families Forum. The author (Melissa) also has a shop here on Etsy!Sew Fine Baby Boutique. There are lots of tips/advice within the thread if you want more information: diaperswappers.com Super Gentle Homemade Laundry Soap 1 cup Washing Soda1 cup 20 Mule [...]

Eco tip submitted by Dinner Time Chimes I found this organization called New Eyes for the Needy which collects both prescription and sun glasses which are in turn given to medical missions and international charitable organizations for distribution to the poor in developing nations. There are also details on their website of other items that [...]

Eco tip submitted by Shecological. HEMP: NOT JUST FOR HIPPIES! Tote by Shecological Not that I don’t love hippies and we have to give them credit for keeping an interest in hemp alive! However, historically and currently, hemp is much bigger than that. Historically, hemp was used on the masts of the pilgrims’ ships, pioneer [...]

Tutorial submitted by joonbeam. Visit the joonbeam blog. Anyone who knows me even a smidgen knows I love thrift shops. Here’s a perfect example of a find that keeps me going back for more. It seems impossible that I, a 30+ year cookbook collector, have never run across a perfect~for~me copy of this classic. Well, on [...]

Eco tip submitted by Winkydinks How much feminine hygiene garbage do you flush/throw away every month? It’s money and resources down the drain. Literally. Follow this link to see a visual of the impact. Have you heard of a menstrual cup? Have you considered using one but thought it was too gross? TRY IT! I just traveled [...]

“Organic agriculture is the deepest movement for peace” – Vandana Shiva After a week-end spent with friends sharing many great meals together, the subject of organic always seems to come up so I thought I would make it this week’s theme. Please send me your nominations from the shops of EcoEtsy team members who offer [...]

Easter is almost here and all the magical memories of childhood at this time of year: hunting for bright colored shiny eggs in the dewy grass and hoping to catch a glimspe of the Easter bunny hiding behind every tree or bush.I would like to see items from our team that remind you of Easter, [...]

Tutorial submitted by Leatherwood Designs. Quick and Easy Homemade Pizza By making your own pizza you can reduce packaging waste. Besides, kids love pizza and making your own means that you control the ingredients, a perfect opportunity to sneak in some healthy extras like whole wheat, broccoli and spinach. Crust Batter:1 cup all-purpose flour (or [...]

Tutorial submitted by Ecomonster Visit Ecomonster.com I’m a fourth year in college so I’ve had my share of guilt every time I had to print out pages and pages of notes and such. But for almost two years now I haven’t had to purchased any new white paper. I save all my old papers from [...]

There’s a lot going on with our team and members that we’d like to fill you, our wonderful blog reads, in on this week . . . Our New Members Map!We have a new map where you can go to find EcoEtsy members near you! This is our way of promoting more local shopping. We [...]

Eco tip submitted by LindaEve A couple of years ago we traded in our dirty old threadbare carpet for beautiful new laminate (wood-like) flooring. We were so pleased with the look and feel of our new floor and were keen to keep it looking good for the long term. The flooring installer recommended a particular brand [...]

Eco tip submitted by lilbees. When I was a kid my mom used cloth diapers. They were huge things that had to be folded, pinned, and covered with plastic pants. After they were used they had to be dunked and swished in the toilet, then put into a pail with water and bleach…the whole process was [...]

The nominations are in and they are truly adorable this week! letitiah nominated this Scarlet eco friendly clutch purse wristlet by pouch swirlyarts nominated this Recycled Zipper Belt by fisheye And finally, Moonbeads nominated this Vintage Filigree Button Ring by luchi Mark your calendars for next Monday to come back and participate in our newest [...]

Cosa Verde is a nifty new source for handmade items that are eco-friendly! It’s especially awesome that the site has an organizational breakdown to easily find items based on particular eco-friendly criteria, as some shoppers may want something that has been re-purosed, others may be shopping for vegan friends, and still others may be inclined [...]

This week, show me EcoEtsy items that have a soft and sweet look to them*! Pick your nominations from EcoEtsy team members. To do this, simply do a tag search on etsy.com for teamecoetsy (all one word) to find an item or items you’d like to nominate for the week’s theme. Please get your nominations [...]

Tutorial submitted by rikrak. Visit the rikrak studio blog. We’ve always loved to give handmade gifts in our home. a few years ago, when our son was 2, i was looking for an easy, inexpensive way to share my wonderful son’s adorable toddler drawings with the world! i just love those clean, dramatic lines and [...]

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, you may need to find the perfect gift to convey your love to that special someone, be it a significant other, a crush, a parent, a child, or just a friend! So let’s see what you’d love to give to the special someone(s) in your life from EcoEtsy! ♡ vintage [...]