Green Spot

Green Label Clothing was co-created five years ago as a labor of love for George, a long time T-shirt designer who has always wanted to change the world, and his wife Rain, an extraordinary organic grower and lifetime environmentalist.

After learning about the severe environmental impact of conventionally grown cotton, they set out to educate and inform as many people as possible to the importance of supporting organic farming and responsible, sustainable business practices.

The Green Label philosophy is one of respect; respect for our environment, respect for working people everywhere, and respect for themselves through the choices they make.

They are pleased to offer you this colorful collection of 100% certified organic ring spun cotton T-shirts and tops. Their super-soft, low impact garment dyed organic T-shirts are made in the USA. Each piece is artfully designed to deliver fun and positive messages about the environment, fair trade, sustainability, and issues that are important to us all.

Womens Dragonfly hooded Tunic $48.00

Grow Your Own Women's Long Sleeve $35.00

Revolutionary Women's Thermal $42.00

All The Water Men's Crew $29.00

Imagine Men's Long Sleeve $35.00

Revolutionary Onesies $26.00

I hope you liked what i highlighted in this post. For more info on Green Label or to see their full selection of products please follow this link : www.greenlabel.com

Ford Blazer. Was $250.00 Now $75.00

Launched in New York City in 2004 by designer Rogan Gregory and Scott Mackinlay Hahn,
Loomstate was founded as a casual brand dedicated to creating demand for certified organic cotton
using socially and environmentally responsible methods of production.

I personally LOVE Loomstate’s clothing line and as i was browsing the web today i just so happened to find out that they are having a huge sale on a lot of their fall and winter apparel!

All three items i am highlighting today are pieces from their Men’s Jacket & Outerwear section. Please check out their great selection below:

Santa Paula Jacket. Was $325.00 Now $97.50

Montana Jacket. Was $325.00 Now $97.50

Never With-Out Hood. Was $165.00 Now $49.50

Please follow this link to see Loomstate’s full product line: www.loomstate.org

Elston Messenger Bag, 15x12.4x4.5"

The two founders of Noon Solar, Jane Palmer and Marianne Fairbanks, have backgrounds in fibers and textiles. They met in the graduate MFA program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Their company began as an art project in early spring of 2002 as a response to the impending war in Iraq. They were feeling powerless in the country’s decision making process and felt the US was largely going to war for oil. They came up with a solution to give people not only personal power, but to integrate renewable solar power into daily life.

Logan Messenger Tote, 12x14x4"

Noon Solar was actually brought to my attention by a colleague because i ran into the problem of being out on the road and having my phone die out on me.

The Noon Solar product line is great because it produces just enough power after a day in the sun to allow me to charge my phone. Another great feature is that this bag has a battery inside that will store that power for use at a later time.

No Longer will i be stuck without a outlet to charge my phone or MP3 player with. The messenger bags are even constructed to be able to fly on a plane with you. The Noon Solar staff even charged their bags from the sunlight from the window while on that plane! How amazing is that?

For more information on their product line please visit their website : www.noonstyle.com

I love stumbling upon great clothing brands that not only use eco-friendly high quality materials but also use sweatshop free labor. This mother/daughter team was formed as a medium for them to spread their messages about causes that need attention.

Joan and Hollis felt that they had been blessed with the gift of being able to communicate. So why not communicate messages that help all of us through this life? Together they brainstormed ways to get messages regarding social and environmental causes that they were passionate about, into the mainstream consciousness.

Originally, they wanted to design and distribute newsletters or “did you know” cards to coffee houses and concert venues, etc., with information regarding the dangers of vinyl, the plight of much of the world’s population regarding the lack of safe drinking water, dangerous food additives that are approved by the FDA that are in common foods and beverages that are actually carcinogens, etc. Then Hollis suggested that instead of putting the messages on paper, which usually just ends up in the trash, why not put them on shirts?

Because Joan has another business, +E serves as a place for her passions, not her primary paycheck. Not only is it a vehicle to help others but it’s also a way to “give back.” Hollis and Joan both feel that life is an opportunity to give our best everyday and to help each other every way we can, whether it’s with a kind word, a compliment, a helping hand or a monetary donation. There are so many people and places in need, they are trying to help, one step at a time, by donating 10% of their profits to three different charities with the hope that they can give more to more charities as they grow.

Here are some great examples of some great simple shirts that i love:

World Hunger. More than 800 million people in the world are starving. In developing countries hunger-related causes kill 6 million children each year. One in ten households in the U.S. are living with hunger or are at risk of hunger. What we can do Understand that the challenge we face is not production of food and wealth, but getting it to the people who need it most • Help spread the word against politcal climates that restrict emergency relief efforts as well as systematically starve their people because of failed economic policies • Empower people to find ways to improve their lives by providing opportunities for training and awareness

Back View

Recycling. Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. It reduces the need for landfilling and incineration. It also saves energy and prevents pollution from processing virgin materials. Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals and helps sustain the environment for future generations. What we can do Recycle at home • Separate and put out your recyclables for curbside pickup or take them to your local drop-off or buy-back center • Use products in containers that can be recycled in your community and items that can be repaired or reused • Support recycling markets by buying and using products made from recycled materials.

Back View

Animal Abuse. Hundreds of thousands of animals are held captive, tortured, or killed every year. The reasons range from consumer products to pure entertainment. Outdated product testing inflicts unnecessary pain and damage onto laboratory animals. Overbred dogs are kept in horrendous conditions for profit. Exotic animals are irresponsibly sold as pets. Circus animals are often trained through the use of intimidation and physical abuse. What we can do Recognize that animals are capable of feeling pain and suffering • Support companies whose products and ingredients are not tested on animals • Check local shelters when looking for a pet • Be aware of others’ intentions when giving pets away • Consider spaying or neutering your pets • Avoid circuses that feature animal performers • If you witness animal abuse, write down the details and report it to the police

Back View

If you are interested in purchasing their clothing or are just interested in getting to know more about what they do please visit their website : www.shoppositiveenergy.com

Simply Green Solutions is holding a Ebay auction for Haiti Earthquake Relief. ALL proceeds from this auction will be donated to UNICEF’s relief fund for Haiti.

The item we are auctioning off is a 4 pack of 25oz Stainless Steel Drinking Canteens. Below is a image of what you will receive:

4 Color Variety Pack of SGS 25oz Stainless Steel Drinking Canteens

Please click on the image to be directed to the Ebay page. Or you can follow this link to the Ebay Page: http://cgi.ebay.com/Simply-Green-Solutions-25oz-4-Pack-Canteen_W0QQitemZ170435609256QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item27aec102a8#ht_1342wt_1116

Prepping Solar Panels in Hait

I was reading a great article on www.inhabitat.com written by Jorge Chapa titled ” Solar Energy Powering Reconstruction Efforts in Haiti “. Here is a small excerpt from his article :

“Think about it for a second. Right now, many of our lives are completely powered by electricity. Most of the basic services we take for granted use a significant amount of electricity to work. No power means no water, no purification, no phones, and no cooking. And for a recently devastated country like Haiti and its inhabitants, electricity can literally mean the difference between life or death.” - Jorge Chapa

His article highlights how the support and aid groups in Haiti are using solar power to purify water, power hospitals, and provide communication.

Reading Jorge Chapa’s article sparked a few ideas in my head about what can be done to sustain quality of life in Haiti. My twist on this whole situation is to suggest that this solar power infrastructure should be permanently  harnessed to power Haiti. I am not clear on what will happen to the ” donated ” solar panels and solar ovens after the relief efforts are finished. But if they truly are donated to keep forever i hope that the support and aid workers overseas will help the Haitian population learn how to manage, maintain, and properly harness the power provided by this great technology.

In a perfect world this complete loss of infrastructure and power would open the door to start over from scratch. I like to think of this situation like natures way of cleaning the slate and opening an opportunity for the habitants of Haiti to incorporate the green technology into their daily lives. I just hope that the relief and aid that is currently over there is being harnessed correctly and will be incorporated into their daily lives.

Lets all hope that the Haiti’s recovery from this devastating natural disaster will run smooth. And i think a big thanks goes out to all of you who have helped and contributed to the relief of Haiti.

If you would like to help Haiti Simply Green Solutions supports UNICEF’s efforts and would suggest to make a donation to their relief fund. Please follow this link to their donations area: http://www.supportunicef.org

We also strongly support http://www.solarworld-usa.com for donating Enough solar panels to power 10 water purification systems! Thats enough safe clean drinking water for 150,000 people!

ecoKashmere Cap Sleeve Vee

Organic agriculture protects the health of people and the planet by reducing the overall exposure to toxic chemicals from synthetic pesticides that can end up in the ground, air, water and food supply, and that are associated with health consequences, from asthma to cancer. Because organic agriculture doesn’t use toxic and persistent pesticides, choosing organic products is an easy way to help protect yourself. (OTA, Organic Trade Association)

Jonano offer some great products that are organic cotton, organic bamboo, safe synthetics, or a mixture of all elements. Their clothing line is a great choice if you want to be a conscious consumer.

Here are some quick facts about the current condition of pesticide driven Cottons:

- Conventional cotton farming is one of agriculture’s most environmentally destructive activities, taking an enormous toll on the air, water, and soil, as well as people living around pesticide laden cotton fields.

- Cotton uses approximately 25 percent of the world’s insecticides and more than 10 percent of the pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants.).

- In the U.S. in 2000, 84 million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on the 14.4 million acres of conventional cotton grown in the country, ranking cotton second behind corn in total amount of pesticides sprayed.

- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruled in 2000 that seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in the United States as “possible,” “likely,” “probable,” or “known” human carcinogens.

Here are some great pieces offered by Jonano that will help you distance yourself from these chemicals and processes :

Ecolux Capri Pant Cloud

Ecolux Lace Kimono Wrap Cloud

ecoKashmere LS Vee Neck Boyfriend Sweater Ice Blue

Sami Onsie Panda Fiji Blue

ecoKashmere Capri Legging

These are just some of the basics, to view their full collection please visit : www.jonano.com

Friendly Tips from www.wateruseitwisely.com

While browsing the web today i stumbled upon this great website : www.wateruseitwisely.com .

My view on conservation and protecting the environment is that if you, as an individual, aren’t informed of the things you can do to make a difference it is a daunting task to make changes in your life.

This website is great because it provides you with 100 great tips on how you can make a difference with minor changes to your daily habits.

Here are a few tips that i thought were great :

This week is a rare week in Southern California, we have a full week of forecasted rain. I know it sounds ludicrous to say that its rare to have a full week of rain during the winter season, but honestly its a rare thing in Southern California.

Many people ( even some residents of So Cal ) do not realize that we are in a constant state of drought. If we did not receive water from Central and Northern California we would basically be living in a desert.

Now and days people are so focused on ENERGY CONSUMPTION that they forget about WATER CONSERVATION. Responsible water conservation is just as important as decreasing your carbon footprint. One of the great things about water conservation is that you can do your part and help out at a significantly lower cost compared to what you do to conserve energy.

The focus of discussion today will be the collection of rain water. The conservation tool that i would like to highlight today is the trusty old rain barrel. We all know that when it rains, it pours; and with the right rain barrel, all that rainwater can be saved. Rain water harvesting is important because it decreases the high demand for domestic water in which residential irrigation can account for up to 40% of consumption. By collecting rain water and storing it a rain barrel you’ll have water for future use, whether it’s for watering the garden or just keeping it handy for emergency situations.

Below are some great examples of rain barrels that can help you take a step in the right direction:

Bordeax - 59 gallon ( previously used to hold wine )

Supra Rain Barrel - 66 Gallon ( Comes equipped with a stand that raises the barrel so that a watering can or bucket can be filled easily )

WaterBank Collapsible Rain Barrel - 58 Gallons ( 5 inflatable chambers create this barrel, and deflates for easy storage )

Flora Dark Brown Speckled Rain Barrel & Planter - 55 Gallon ( this item effectively integrates rainwater storing and landscape design )

Water Harvesting Tank - 214 Gallon ( This tank provides an ecologically sound and cost effective way to collect and store rainwater for all of your gardening and landscape needs. )

These Rain Barrels are just a few examples of what is on the market. For a lager selection please follow this link: The Composters

Earthquake.haiti911.com is a great new website that has popped up while all of the relief efforts are taking place for Haiti.

I found this website on a general web search for Haitian Earthquake Relief and i found it to be a great resource of information for people situated in Haiti along with people located elsewhere.

The gist of this website is that anyone can post any and all information that they find out about what is going on in Haiti. Some of the great posts that i have seen so far have been in regards to missing persons and where people can donate relief.

Simply Green Solutions is currently researching and looking for a charity to donate to. We are currently using this website as a resource to determine which organization is the best fit to receive our donations.

Please join us in the search for a great charity to donate to. If you have any suggestions or comments please feel free to leave a comment or you can email ryan-ito@simplygreensolutions.com

Thank you all for your help and support in this time of crisis. Keep up the great work!