Well, why not join the team and be a part of the green crafting blogosphere?

Crafting a Green World is on the hunt for a couple of super awesome crafters that want to share their green crafting knowledge with the world. That’s right, we are on a talent search and could be looking for you!

If you feel like you have what it takes to be a part of our team we want to hear from you! Specifically if you specialize in yarn, paper crafts, jewelry or body care we extra-specially want to hear from you. Also we’d love to diversify, so if you are in possession of an x and a y chromosome and can lend your voice to the green craft movement, we doubly want to hear from you!!

So what are you waiting for? Send us your name, contact information and at least one relevant writing sample to cagreenworld [at] gmail [dot] com. We can’t wait to meet you!

Newspapers and magazines play a part, but with their shrinking staffs, it’s a smaller role by the day. Blogs? Definitely, it’s where people with the freedom and foresight to look broader, more critically, think more bravely share what they’re observing, researching, and wanting your feedback on. Microblogging sites such as Twitter take the time frame even more immediate, currently breaking.

But, you may be asking, where do I find the time to go to all these sources? A fair question, one which a tool like Feedly handily integrates all together in one place, allowing for you to easily interact with both your information and the people talking about it.

The next question you may have is, how do I even find what I need to keep track of in the first place amongst all this big swirling pot of information? And how do I know what’s best?

Read more of this story »

How it works

In 2006, an estimated $24.4 billion was spent on Internet advertising. (CBS, ZenithMedia) Some of this advertising money is spent placing ads on Internet search engines like Google and Yahoo. Each time we search the web, we see ads that fund the search engines. Advertisers benefit from marketing, search engines earn money, and we get to surf the web. Certain search engines donate their advertising earnings to charity, sometimes to the charity of your choice. All you have to do is to know where to search.

For example, to offset carbon emissions while you search, you can enter "carbon fund" (a carbon offset organization) into the bar on Goodsearch that reads "What do you Goodsearch for?" Now while you search the web, you will be fighting climate change. It’s that simple. I do about 35 searches a day, which adds up to over 22,600 kg (50,000 pounds) of CO2 that I can offset each year by using this search engine combination. Try this in your office or school to make an even bigger impact!

Here are 15 of the top charity search engines.

1. Goodsearch

"GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50-percent of its revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. It’s a simple and compelling concept. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine. Because it’s powered by Yahoo!, you get proven search results."

2. Everyclick

"Everyclick allocates 50% of its gross revenue to charity each month. Each active charity receives a proportion of that sum equivalent to the proportion in which its supporters use the website relative to the supporters of other active charities. The activity of everyclick website users who do not select a specific charity will benefit all active charities on a pro rata basis."

3. Searchgive

"On average, your searches will generate about $0.01 per search and we will send your chosen charity a check when their account reaches $25.00."

4. Ripple

"Our search sponsor pays a small amount to ripple every time you search from the homepage. Ripple passes 100% of this amount directly onto our charities to help them fight poverty."

5. Magic taxi

"MagicTaxi gives 50% of its advertising revenue to charity. Each day we feature a different charity on our homepage. If you prefer you can support just one of our partners, click here to choose your favourite."

6. Seach Kindly

“100% of the advertising revenue generated from this website is donated to charitable organizations that our volunteers select every month.100% of the advertising revenue generated from this website is donated to charitable organizations that our volunteers select every month." Seach Kindly is powered by Google.

7. GoodTree

"GoodTree is a web homepage that supports charities each time you use the GoodTree web search. 50% of advertising revenue is given to charity. Approximately one-half a cent (U.S.) is generated per web search." GoodTree is also a social networking site. It’s search engine is powered by Google, Yahoo! and MSN.

8. CatchTomorrow

"The search engine that helps fund public schools. CatchTomorrow will donate 50% of its gross revenue to American Schools."

9. Lookie

"LOOKLE was created in Melbourne, Australia, in early to mid 2000. Its name being derived from the words ‘Look Learn Engine.’ This system is designed to donate up to 50% of advertising revenue raised to charity and search point values will be adjusted from time to time to meet that target."

10. rectifi

"We donate 92% of our advertising revenue to charity meaning you could be raising money for those in the developing world every time you search the internet." Rectifi is based in the UK.

11. Clicks4Cancer

"When you use Clicks4Cancer.com as your Home Page, these advertiser’s fees will be shared with us and we, in turn, will collect these commissions and donate 70% of all revenue to various charitable cancer foundations and organizations."

12. Charity Café

"We only cover the tiny costs we incur in running the site - so 100% of net funds are split equally between our listed charities." Charity Café is powered by Ask.com.

13. Oblatoo

"Every time you make a search you can see the amount pledged go up by 1p as we bid to raise £1m for charity."

14. The Green Spider

"TheGreenspider is a search engine that saves energy by using a coloured background. The search results are powered by Google. From the profits we make, we intend to invest in several environmental projects. More details to follow."

15. ClicksCount

"Every search carried out on this special Live search charity site makes a direct donation to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)." ClicksCount is a program of MSN in the UK.

References:

14 Charity Search Engines : Searching for Good | searchenginejournal

15 Charity Search Engines that help you give money to charity for free | doshdosh

Do you ever feel like finding a green business in your area is like trying to locate a needle in a haystack? If you are not one of these lucky enough to live in New York City, the Bay Area, or other notoriously ‘green friendly’ locations, figuring out what businesses cater to green-minded folk can seem like an insurmountable task.

Being born and raised in the Midwest, I understand how frustrating the search for local sustainable business can truly be. Sometimes it can take months of acclimation to a new city to get a good understanding of where to find green necessities.

The good news is that search does not have to be as arduous as you might believe. With the creation of green business databases and locators, finding green businesses near you no longer has to be a guessing game.

Co-Op America offers a great resource for locating all types of green businesses by region. The Green Pages, a searchable database of accredited green businesses, does the leg-work for you! The database is set up so you can search for the specific type of business you are looking for in your area.

Looking for a green drycleaner? Just enter in the keyword and location. When testing this database, I received three hits for the ‘green cleaners’ within fifteen miles of my target location. Although none of the businesses were within walking distance of my residence, it took the guess-work out of trying to find the right establishment.

When attempting to locate a green business, accountability is key. All the businesses in The Green Pages database made “firm commitments to sustainable, socially just principles, including the support of sweatshop-free labor, organic farms, fair trade, and cruelty-free products”. Because there is little regulation in terms of what businesses can call themselves ‘green’, it is important to be able to identify those establishments who are honestly making an attempt at sustainability, rather than those who are trying to exploit the recent popularity of ‘going green’.

Further, Green Pages goes as far as to intensively screen all applicants, as to ensure the authenticity of each entry into the database. According to Co-Op America, “The Screening Committee, which is appointed by and reports to Co-op America’s board of directors, investigates each applying company to determine its familiarity with and commitment to social and environmental responsibility, and looks for significant evidence of this commitment in the practices and policies of the company.” That pretty reassuring, now isn’t it?

In order for sites like The Green Pages to be as comprehensive as possible, it is important for both patrons and business owners to be actively engaged in the nomination of new businesses. So, next time you visit your favorite green grocer, drycleaner, dog groomer or interior designer, ask them if they are listed in the Green Pages! If not, it is easy to begin the process for them- all you have to do is register the business at and Co-op America will take it from there!

It is now time to rejoice! Gone are the days of fruitlessly combing your area for the green businesses! You no longer have to feel as though you are flying blind when it comes to finding just the right place to spend your hard-earned dollars! In fact, the businesses you are looking for just may be a click away…

Co-op America’s Green Pages