My last green post

This is my final post as a weekly blogger on eco consumerism. My class has come to an end. So I thought I would make my last blog about my experience in the class.

Coming into this class, I thought going green was just a silly fad. I've changed my tune though. I still don't like doing my grocery shopping at Whole Foods, but I'm not so taken aback now when I go in there with my sister now. Before this class I wasn't exactly the most wasteful person on the planet, but I was definitely leaving my mark. The best part about doing a blog like this is that I actually learned something. It was kind of like going on a little scavenger hunt for green goods.

I'm not going to lie, I'm still no expert on green goods. And I'm also not going to
pretend like I'm any kind of eco expert. Although, for a friend's birthday gift this weekend I wrapped it in paper from a magazine I already had. That's progress for me, you don't even know. I'm also actively looking for a place to buy an aluminum water bottle if you know anywhere to get one. Excuse me, but I thought it was a little silly that people driving Hummers were also buying reusable grocery bags. Now I realize it's all about doing a part, even a little part. It's hard to change every habit you have but I've realized just doing a little bit, like buying an organic cleaner or reusing your grocery bag is absolutely better than doing nothing.




Do you want to know the way the class really affected me? It's simple really it helped me to understand my sister better and her organic food shopping tendencies. I used to really hate going into Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, but this class gave us something to talk about and gave me a source of information. I learned a lot about organic and gluten free foods and just how important they are to people. For me, it's not exactly about going green, it's about being healthy.

I have also come across some of the nicest people doing stories for this class which is really great for a journalism student. So in the end, the main thing is I learned something, which is more than I can say for some classes I have taken in my four years at The University of Arizona. From now on I will do my best to continue going a little greener. I'm still trying not to take green too seriously though. It has to be fun too for me to want to do it. Below is a funny video from funnyordie.com.Can't lose your sense of humor.

Toque de Pasion: Fair Trade Fashion

For my special project for a class I came across one of the coolest boutiques I have ever set foot it. The boutique is called Toque de Pasion and owners Melissa McCormick and Cesar Zegarra opened up on Broadway and Country Club about two years ago.

The shop carries lines that are all completely fair trade. Some of the lines are also made out of organic cotton.

According to their website: "Our primary goal is to bring superior designs and affordably priced fashions, produced by individual artisans & fair trade companies, to our desert metropolitan area and beyond. We prefer to work with textile manufacturers who use progressive environmental & employment practices."

Melissa McCormick, co owner of Toque de Pasion is really passionate about fair trade but promises she does not try to preach to her customers.

The boutique has an extremely exclusive line from Brazil that includes gorgeous gemstone jewelry. Toque de Pasion is the only place in the Western United States where you can find the pieces. The Bakana jewelry line is a favorite of some Hollywood Celebs, including Eva Longoria and has been worn on episodes of Desperate Housewives.

The coolest line that Toque De Pasion carries is it's own line which comes from Cesar's family in Peru. They carry organic cotton tops, skirts and other items.

McCormick said her customers swear by the organic cotton tops saying they breathe better in the Tucson summer heat.

The boutique is not having one of its one of two sales of the year so head over soon for some exclusive and eco friendly goods you can't get anywhere else! I can't wait to go back and do some real shopping.

Green Golf

When you think golf, you don't exactly think the most eco-friendly of sports. It costs a lot of money to keep the greens green and the roughs long and unfriendly.

But now even the sport of golf is doing it's part to go green. There are two products on the market now that are trying to green up the sport.

The first is the eco tee from Indiana company Eco-golf.

In an email from an eco-golf representative, he wrote that their tees are just like traditional ones and are non marking on club heads. They just look a little different, kind of plastic-y. But they are no different than good old wooden tees.

Eco golf manufactures three types of tees, all of which are biodegradable, their eco tee 2 green tee does in as little as 60 days.

This technology came to the States from Austria. The Austrian, biogolf, biodegradable golf tee won the 2008 Volvo Sports Design Award for Accessories.

Watch the Video:


Also on the market is a biodegradable golf ball. On the web, you can find the water soluble golf balls. These really don't make any sense to me. They are marketed as if encouraging the customer to hit golf balls into the ocean. It just seems silly to me. Their website reads that the golf balls only go half the distance when hit with a driver and only go the full distance with an 8 or a 9 iron.

The eco tee makes sense to me, it actually will be beneficial to the environment but the biodegradable golf ball just seems a little too un necessary to me.

Go green and be charitable

Going green is so trendy now. There are books and entire magazine issues devoted to the topic. It's almost like people are forgetting about the simple ways they probably were already saving the environment already. With so much consumerism and a new market for green goods, it's easy to lose sight of the real goals of saving the environment, the greater good.

There are second hand stores all over the city. Including Buffalo Exchange and also places like Plato's Closet in Tucson where you can bring your clothes and make a buck off of them. Goodwill. These are great places to get rid of unwanted clothing.

I'll admit it, I'm kind of a hoarder. Especially when it comes to clothes. I'm always trying to justify keeping a top from high school just because I think I could, I might wear it again. This weekend, however I said no more!

I spent a good hour and a half going through all the clothes in my drawers and critically evaluating if I was ever really going to wear them again. I decided that instead of trying to make a quick buck off a my gently used items I would put them to good use.

There is an organization in Tucson called Casa De Los Ninos. The organization helps children in the Tucson area. The organization also has it's own thrift store located on 1302 E. Prince Rd. I decided to go and donate my things to the local charity outfit.

Not only did I go green because I recycled my clothes but they are going to a good local cause too where I can see the benefits of my donation in the community where I live.

Now.... I just need to find the patience to tackle my closet.