Green Options » free

Green Lunch Giveaway: Square Meal Kit by Citizenpip

Jennifer Lance — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:10:34 +0000

The kind folks at Citizenpip have offered to give a Square Meal Kit to one lucky Eco Child’s Play reader! The Square Meal Kit features:

• 1 insulated lunch bag with nametag and carabiner that easily attaches to a backpack
• 1 stainless steel water bottle
• 4 BPA-free airtight food containers
• 5 100% cotton napkins

“Citizenpip is muck-free: no lead, BPA, PVC, or phthalates.”

To enter, simply leave a comment to this post telling us what your child’s or your own favorite lunch item is, and we will draw a random winner on October 14, 2009. Winners will get to select their own lunch bag style (Yum, Eat, or Tasty) to be included in the Square Meal Kit. Entries are limited to the continental United States.

In case you missed it, check out our review of Soup to Nuts Kit by Citizenpip!

Come to the Bike-In Movies

Rhonda Winter — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:17:27 +0000

Lately the long foggy nights of summer make me wistfully yearn for the drive-in movies of my youth. Bad movies and sticky salty gooey food were merely condiments for the socializing that was really the main event on so many long ago August nights. Sadly, all of our local Bay Area drive-ins have gone dark years ago; however, this summer in San Francisco we now have something even better, the bike-in movies.

Throughout this summer the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is hosting a series of free bike-related movie screenings downtown at 7th and Mission Streets, right across from the Good Hotel. Once a month the hotel’s barren parking lot is transformed into a festive and inviting public space, where hundreds of people gather for free entertainment, socializing, and to eat tasty locally made snacks.

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Wilbur the ‘Freedom Pig’ a Hero After Five Months on the Run

Andrew Williams — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:25:20 +0000

A 150 lb feral pig has emerged as an unlikely hero after evading capture by the authorities in Florida for an incredible five months.

The pig, dubbed ‘Wilbur’ or the ‘freedom pig’ by supporters, has survived being shot with tranquiliser darts and a taser stun gun since first appearing in a park in the Cove neighbourhood of Panama City.

Last week, Mary Sittman a follower on the “Pig of the Cove” Facebook group launched to chronicle the pig’s adventures asked, “Is the pig a symbol of our desire to live free of government controls?”

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19 Free (Green) Tools for Small Businesses

Jennifer Kaplan — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:05:46 +0000

Another post inspired by a HARO request. This time it was an ask for low or no-cost tools used by small businesses. I did a quick search for the word “free” in my book and realized there are dozens. Here are my 19 favorites:

Free energy-efficiency information, resources, and technical advice—ENERGY STAR for Small Business provides free information, resources, and technical advice on hundreds of cost-savings practices. Includes a downloadable copy of the free ENERGY STAR for Small Business Guide, “Putting Energy into Profits” and information about ENERGY STAR–labeled products.
Free recycling and conservation signs—You can customize, download, and print free recycling and conservation signs at recyclereminders.com.
Free control of your IT—If you run a network, software from companies like LocalCooling.com allows the settings on computers to be controlled centrally so you can automatically turn those babies off when no one is using them.
Free Green IT for Dummies—HP sponsors a free, downloadable, condensed, limited edition of the Green IT for Dummies guide.
Free recycling bins—The Coca-Cola/NRC Recycling Bin Grant Program provides recycling bins to selected grant recipients for the collection of beverage container recyclables in public settings.
Free rideshare widget for websites— at GooseNetworks.com.
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US Scientists Say Burning Ice Could Provide Green Power

Andrew Williams — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:58:43 +0000

US Scientists have revealed how natural gas locked up in frozen water crystals could provide massive amounts of energy, and claim that it could even be totally emissions-free.

The astonishing claim was made by Tim Collett of the United States Geological Survey at last weeks national meeting of the American Chemical Society. Collett told the gathering that, to the naked eye, clathrate hydrate (CH) looks like everyday ice but, as well as being partly made of water, the molecules are also organised into “cages”, which trap individual molecules of methane.

Remarkably, a new method of extracting the methane and ’swapping’ it with carbon dioxide could turn the substance into a revolutionary carbon-neutral fossil fuel.

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Free Membership From Kids for Saving Earth

Summer Minor — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:32:54 +0000

Kids for Saving Earth is an environmental education site that offers great curriculum for teachers, mentors, and parents to teach kids more about protecting the earth. Kids can learn about animals, global warming, how their environment affects their health, and much more. The curriculum is bright, fun, and a great tool for helping kids learn more about protecting the earth. And right now, you can get a free membership.

Kids for Saving Earth is a non-profit organization that was founded as a small club by Clinton Hill, an eleven year old boy that loved the earth and could not understand why people would hurt it. After dying from cancer at a young age his parents established Kids for Saving Earth to carry on what he had begun. Years alter Kids for Saving Earth is still going strong, providing education and inspiration for kids who care about the Earth.

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Pay What You Want for Organic Food

Allison Boyer — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 05:55:03 +0000

In order to promote healthy, organic foods, one restaurant in Queens is offering an innovative pricing structure.

Tierra Sana, which is located at the corner of 67th Ave. and Queens Blvd, will be offering “Pay What You Want” pricing every Tuesday during lunchtime hours, starting on Feb. 3. After eating, you get decide how much the meal was worth, according to an article by the NY Daily News.

The special includes an array of appetizers, entrees, salads and desserts that are all health-conscious but still savory.

“Health food doesn’t have to be expensive or tasteless,” said owner Vic Fiallo, who began the “Pay What You Want” special to introduce Queens diners to cheap, healthy cuisine.

Alcohol is not included as part of the free pricing, but they do have a selection of organic wins available. Many of their meals are vegetarian and vegan options. Fiallo says that he’s confident that the food is so good that he’ll still make a profit during these lunchtimes specials.

Picture via sxc.hu.

Top 10 Eco-Best Seafood

Sonya — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:58:29 +0000

Many eco-conscious families struggle with buying seafood that is both healthy for themselves and the environment.

“Choosing eco-friendly seafood is not only good for the oceans, it’s good for your family too,” says Katharine Burnham, spokesperson for the Environmental Defense Fund.

So what exactly is eco-friendly seafood? Anchovies are the Eco-Best Seafood, according to the Environmental Defense Fund’s research. In its health facts, the fund says anchovies are high in heart-healthy omega-3s and have low contaminant levels.

Anchovies can be safely eaten by adults and children for more than four meals per month, research indicates. They have “short life spans and reproduce quickly (and) are resilient to fishing pressure and remain plentiful.”

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Free Toys and Less Clutter: Sharing the Toy Library Love

Heather Dunham — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:40:27 +0000

Toys! Toys! Toys! If you have kids, chances are your house is overrun with them.

Cheap plastic garbage toys gifted from well-intentioned relatives; expensive high-quality wooden eco-friendly educational pieces that are almost more works of art than toys; noisy electronic toys; toys with a million pieces that always turn up in the darndest of places (but never when you’re actually looking for them)… We concoct ingenious storage solutions, we spend our hard-earned dollars on the very latest thing, and then we hear that inevitable lament:

Mo-o-om… We’re booooooooooooooored!!!

So there you find yourself, bewilderingly surrounded by this mountain of costly yet apparently useless paraphernalia on one side, and these adorable yet apparently helpless children on the other, thinking “there has GOT to be a better way!”

Well take heart, because there is.

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140-Year-Old Lobster Freed From New York Restaurant

Andrew Williams — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:39:48 +0000

A lobster, thought to be up to 140 years old, is to be released into the Atlantic Ocean, after briefly becoming an unconventional mascot at a New York City restaurant.

PETA found out about the plight of the 20 pound crustacean when a diner at NYC’s City Crab & Seafood called to say it was being kept in the diner’s tank. PETA’s Ingrid Newkirk praised the restaurant, saying, “We applaud the folks at City Crab and Seafood for their compassionate decision to allow this noble old-timer to live out his days in freedom and peace.”

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Easy-Peasy Freesie Burdastyle Patterns for Novice Sewers

Julie Finn — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:40:40 +0000

Who’s getting a sewing machine for Christmas? You are!!!

Maybe. As for me, I want a serger (You reading this, Matt?). But let’s say you’re getting a sewing machine for your holiday gift. Perhaps you’re new to sewing, or just need a little time to get up to speed on your awesome, new-to-you machine. Then pop on over to one of my favorite sewing hangouts, Burdastyle. You can browse the tutorials and forums of this open-source sewing enterprise at your leisure, but if you sign up (free!) you’ll also be able to print out their community-made open-source sewing patterns (free!), including these easy-peasy ones perfect for beginners:

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Homeschooling Through the Holidays Sale at CurrClick: Up to 85% Off

Derek Markham — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:49:24 +0000

CurrClick is running a super sale on homeschool and holiday titles, with prices as low as 85% off and your choice of 28 free items through December 1st.

How can you argue with free?

CurrClick was started (conceived) by two homeschooling moms, and their vision of ebooks for homeschoolers has a great mission at heart:

Our mission is to make homeschooling more convenient and more affordable to homeschoolers all over the world. We are committed to promoting homeschooling as a viable alternative to traditional schools in both America and abroad. We strive to offer excellent customer service, a stress-free shopping experience, and to providing a marketplace that rewards authors and publishers who create good quality education materials.

Here’s the free stuff: CurrClick Freebies

And the Holiday link: Homeschooling through the Holidays Sale

Free Solar-Powered WiFi Coming to a Town Near You

Jerry James Stone — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:46:23 +0000

Meraki — the ubiquitous WiFi company — announced that their much anticipated solar unit will begin shipping on December 4 as part of the company’s mission to bring affordable Internet access to everyone. Here in San Francisco, I often connect my iPhone to their Free the Net hot spots while out and about.

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Verdiem Launch Free Software to Slash PC Power Use Up to 80 Percent

Andrew Williams — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:25:13 +0000

PC energy saving specialists Verdiem have today released free downloadable software designed to help users slash their energy use up to a massive 80 percent.

According to Allison Cornia, vice president of product management at Verdiem, “If we could get just 10 per cent of the world’s one billion PCs using [the product] properly we could save 32 billion kilograms of CO2 a year. That’s equivalent to taking half a million cars off the road.”

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Apples, Apples Everywhere! And Not a Bite to Eat…? Free Food in the City!

Bryan Luukinen — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:17:53 +0000

Lately, I’ve been noticing food. Yes, but not in the usual places like the grocery store, farmer’s markets, produce stands, et cetera. No, I’ve been noticing food in unusual places. On the ground. Under trees. In the street.

While many people these days may think that apples, pears, plums and walnuts only come from pristine orchards in pastoral valleys, there is food among us. Right under our noses. And often, it’s going to waste.

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Free Trips and Chocolate: Fair Trade Contests

Alicia Erickson — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:09:06 +0000

Several contests launched this month in honor of Fair Trade month. From free chocolate to trips, there’s a chance for everyone to win.

Divine, a delicious Fair Trade chocolate company, has a tasty deal for all the top chefs out there. They’re looking for recipes that have "heaps of creativity, Divine appeal, and powerful statements about why contestants are hungry to change the world through Fair Trade." The sweetest entry wins a trip to Washington D.C. and some chocolate. The entries are due December 15th, and with the holidays coming, there’s a perfect opportunity to test out your creation on family and friends while introducing them to Fair Trade. If you need a snack to get your creative juices flowing, try out some of Divine’s or Equal Exchange’s recipes.

TransFair is sponsoring a Connect with Fair Trade video contest and the winner gets a trip to Peru. Simply create a short movie (less than 5 minutes) that shows how you connect with Fair Trade, and you could see first-hand the effect your Fair Trade purchases have on farmers. If you are a bit camera shy, you can enter the sweepstakes to win $100 gift certificate for Fair Trade products. No Oscar-winning performances required; simply tell how you connect with Fair Trade.

In conjunction with the launch of their new Fair Trade coffee line, Sam’s Club is offering a week long study grant in Brazil for teachers. "Study grants will be awarded to teachers who express exceptional ideas to educate students on the economic, social and business lessons surrounding fair trade." Eligibility is for teachers of grades 7 - 12 "who can reasonably expect to teach at least fifteen (15) hours a week during the 2008-2009 school year and dedicate at least five (5) lessons to topics related to Fair Trade." A 1,000 word essay must be received by December 15th and must detail how Fair Trade will be incorporated into five lesson plans.

Lessons could cover corporate social responsibility, international trade and economics, environmental issues, human rights and labor, consumer marketing, etc. Essays will be judged on (a) Professionalism in application (25%), (b)Coherent approach to examining relevant issues (25%), (c) Creative engagement with students (25%), and (d) Plans for documenting the trip to farming cooperatives and sharing the experience with students (25%).

Grid Alternatives: Learn How to Install Solar Panels For Free (Pt. 2)

Sara Holt — Tue, 29 May 2007 12:51:48 +0000

As you may remember from my previous post, Grid Alternatives is a Bay Area non-profit that teaches volunteers how to install solar panels while helping low income residents cut costs on installing a new solar system for their home.

This weekend I took the plunge and found myself standing on top of a roof, where I discovered there are many steps involved in a solar installation, only the last of which involves the panels.

When we arrived, the team leaders quickly divivded us up into a ground team and a roof team and then launched right into the project. While the ground team stayed below to size up the inverter and electrical circuits, the rest of us went up to the roof to learn how to set the feet and tracking system that support the rooftop panels.

I quickly learned that setting the feet can be a messy process. Applying tar to secure the feet and to stop up any potential roof leaks, I soon had tar all over my pants, hands, feet, and even in my hair… Luckily, the Grid Alternatives team came prepared with some biodeisel to clean all it off and I was soon reabsorbed in the next steps of aligning the tracking and testing the efficiency percentage of each panel.

The teams were an interesting mix of Grid Alternatives veterans and newcomers, and it quickly became apparent why people get hooked on volunteering for installs with Grid Alternatives: not only were the team leaders easy-going and interested in sharing their seasoned knowledge, the other volunteers were also quick to exchange practical and scientific experience with the those who didn’t have as much familiarity with the solar realm.

All in all, it’s safe to say I’m officially hooked. Learning how to install solar panels (for free!) was one of the easiest and most fun ways to spend my Saturday, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. If you’re interested in signing up for a training and an install day, check out www.gridalternatives.org, and I will probably see you there.

Tip o’ the Day: Free Swap Party!

Rebecca Carter — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 14:01:04 +0000

You want to get friends together for a party, but you want an original theme. You also are in the middle of spring cleaning and want to get rid of a bunch of stuff that is junk to you, but still is in great condition. Have we got the perfect idea for you! Start planning a free swap among your friends, neighbors, or community.

Here's how you'll do it:

Figure out where you'll hold this swap. It could be your living room, garage or yard. Maybe you'll want a bit of a bigger space and decide to do it at a church or meeting space of some kind.

Make the rules. We suggest the following: Items must be clean and in working condition. No furniture or gigantic items. Label items that others might not know what it is for.

Invite people. Make sure to explain that everything will be given & taken for free. One person's trash is another's treasure! Also explain that this swap will reduce waste, save precious resources & ease the burden on our landfills by allowing usable but unwanted goods to find a new owner.

Organize the items. On the day of the event, you'll want to have several sections set up for people to leave their items. One table may be for small appliances, another for shirts, a section for shoes, toys, etc.

Have fun! Enjoy yourself and have fun looking through the piles of stuff…you just may find that "thing" you've been meaning to buy. Now you have it for free!

Donate remaining items. At the end of your event, you might wind up with some items that no one wants. If it's a large event, you may want to arrange in advance for a Goodwill or other donation organization truck to come for a pick up. Otherwise, you may want to drop off the items yourself.

Freecycle in New York has now held several FreeMeets to this effect. One of which was recently featured on Current TV. Swaporamarama is also a cool event similar to this, but that is purely for clothes & fashion accessories.

Rebecca says: Let us know how your swap goes if you choose to do one! We're planning on holding one during our Earth Day celebration, EarthFest. I've already got some good stuff ready to donate!