Celebrate Earth Day Every Day!

Today is Earth Day, but what does that really mean?

For many, Earth Day is...

• ...the one day out of the whole year that people devote themselves to doing something good for the Earth
• ...a day when corporations use "feel good" tactics to promote their eco-friendly product lines and guilt people into buying them so they can feel they've played a part in preserving the Earth's resources
• ...just another day on the calendar

For me, Earth Day is actually just another day on the calendar, because I constantly look for ways to employ resource conservation and waste reduction methods in my life. Instead of falling for the hype and buying lots of green products, I practice being green every day.

In Beth Terry's latest posting on her Life Without Plastic blog, she examines Buying Green vs. Being Green. She reminds us that we can't buy ourselves to a cleaner, greener planet. Consumption simply yields more waste, especially when many of these eco-friendly products are still made of plastic! Beth's message? "Instead of buying more, just use less."

Celebrate the Earth EVERY DAY, not just on Earth Day!

A Relaxed Black Woman's Natural Hair Care Dilemma

I've been introducing more natural and plastic-free products into my life lately, and tomorrow, I plan to go to Lush (my favorite natural, handmade cosmetics store) to purchase some shampoo and conditioner. After researching their site, I decided that the Curly Wavy shampoo and Jungle conditioner were the best options for Black hair. Only the conditioner comes in solid form (to satisfy my plastic-free goals), but one product out of two is better than nothing, right?

Did you know...?

If one in five people switched from liquid to solid shampoo, about 22 million plastic bottles would be saved from the landfill. (Source: Lush)

Anyway, it just occurred to me that having a relaxer doesn't really fall into my mission to be more natural. I mean, why would someone in search of natural hair care products willingly get their hair chemically processed every two months? And will using natural products in between salon visits really account for anything?

I know what you're thinking...why not just go natural, right? I've "gone natural" twice in my life (once in 2003 and again in 2006), and I don't think the third time will be the charm. When I had natural hair, it was cute in the beginning, but then I didn't know what to do with, and I couldn't afford to have someone else take care of my natural locks. Thinking back, it actually seems more time consuming to have natural hair, and time is something I simply don't have as a busy single mom.

My hair throughout the years (Spring 2004, Jan. 2007, Jan. 2010)

Having relaxed hair definitely fits my lifestyle better, and I enjoy how I look and feel more confident with longer, straight hair. (Spare me the social commentary, please. It is what it is.)

I suppose my dilemma is more about the scientific side of hair care. Will using natural hair care products be beneficial for my hair while I continue to get relaxers? Are there relaxers or relaxer-type products on the market made from natural ingredients? What are the best natural hair care options for Black hair, especially relaxed hair?

Please leave your thoughts and suggestions! I'm sure your comments will be helpful to many Black women out there!

BYOB: Baygs Made From Old T-Shirts

Got old t-shirts hanging around? Well, instead of tossing them, why not make your own reusable produce / bulk food bags?

I've been searching for the perfect alternative to plastic produce bags for months, but everything I've seen so far has been rather expensive. In the video below, Ame Guseman from the Alameda Farmer's Market shows us how you can make your own "Baygs."



Looks like I might want to invest in a sewing machine after all!

Do you sew using recycled clothing? What kinds of items have you made?