Blog Action Day

This is me and my family this spring at Larch Mountain in Oregon.

We like the woods and the green spaces of the world.

Today is Blog Action Day and this is my post. 15,000 blogs around the world have all united to post about the environment today.

Here's what we do as a family to help the environment:
1. We recycle everything that can be recycled.
2. We subscribe to PGE's renewable power program.
3. We get a lot of our clothing and housewares at thrift stores.
4. We like shopping at SCRAP.
5. We have reusable canvas shopping bags for groceries.

Here's what I do at work to help the environment:

I work for an art and craft-based nonprofit organization with a focus on environmental sustainability. Trillium Artisans supports low to moderate income Portland artisans who use at least 50% recycled and reclaimed materials in their work.

Trillium helps people market and sell their sustainable crafts and build their small businesses, thus helping keep materials out of the landfills, building awareness of and appreciation for "green" crafts, and helping to alleviate poverty along the way. Please click here to visit Trillium's Etsy shop, and if you live in Portland, please come to our Holiday Gift Sale on Saturday, November 10 from 1 - 6 pm.

I also work as an art teacher and I use that opportunity to teach kids about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling whenever I can, even if it's as simple as turning a mistake into a happy accident instead of throwing it out and getting a new canvas. I love teaching classes that incorporate reused materials, especially painting mandalas on vinyl records!

Here's what I do as a business to help the environment:

1. Take a look at my shop. Pretty much everything I sell is made from recycled (or "upcycled") vinyl records.
2. I use recycled paper for almost everything I print including my tags, coloring books, brochures, packing slips, etc.
3. I reuse boxes and packaging materials for everything I ship.
4. My studio and office operate on renewable power.
5. I am a member of Trillium Artisans (and yes, I also work there).
6. I am a member of Etsy Trashion and Eco Etsy.
7. I frequently donate art pieces for silent auctions benefiting environmental nonprofits.
8. I participate in art shows that showcase work made from recycled materials, such as the Clark County Recycled Arts Festival and the Tossed and Found Show, and often donate a portion of my sales to environmental causes.

So those are some of the things I do. Leave me a comment and let me know what you do, and don't forget to check out some of the 15,000 other blogs that are posting on this subject today!