Each week High Plains Journal and Midwest Ag Journal cover 12 states with five editions in the core of production agriculture, reaching over 50,000 subscribers that include elite and influential producers managing diversified operations.

The Journal's five editions have 96 percent readership, which proves our dedication to excellence in agriculture reporting, advertising, and publishing as successful. Five full-time employees used to keep the publication running, and now 85 employees are proud to work for an industry leader. Many employees of High Plains Journal and Midwest Ag Journal are leading figures in the rural communities they serve and call home.

Cat & Dogma is a 100% organic and comfortably stylish brand for babies. We think babies deserve to look and feel good. We have created a clothing line that is happy and mindful, from the way that it’s sourced, to the way it is designed. Because being parents is our most important title, we do our best to live by example.

• Creating a sustainable lifestyle and low impact product line with a mission to give back, is the example we share with our families.
• We do our part by shopping at farmers’ markets and buying organic and local.
• We cook dinner as much as we can, walk our dogs and spend time with our children.
• We plant vegetable gardens, raise chickens and bike wherever we can.

Cat & Dogma is inspired by our lifestyle. We give back by donating proceeds from our online sales to the Children’s Home Orphanage in Umbergaon, Gujarat, India, near to where our factory is located. Our monthly donation helps provide 35 children with proper nutrition, clean water and shelter.

Here at beyondGREEN, our sole mission is to reduce plastic pollution by offering our next generation technology of dog waste bags and cat litter bags as an eco-friendly alternative to the trillions of plastic pet waste bags used every year. Pet waste provides an environmental hazard towards water pollution and the spread of harmful bacteria that may lead to disease, yet, using a plastic bag to dispose of waste is not the ecological choice our environment needs. Made with natural, renewable material and packaged in recycled material, bioDOGradable's patented vegetable blend promotes minimized pollution and supports sustainable development goals. This allows their organic material to naturally break down in the environment and serves as food to be consumed by micro-organisms, supporting a circular life cycle to work in harmony with the environment. With a market flooded with green-washed plastics, bioDOGradable is the trusted alternative by offering certifications with USDA Biobased, Vincotte EN13432 for Compostability and Home Compostability. BioDOGradable Bags is more than just a product, they are a movement educating consumers on the effects their choices have on our environment, in hopes of leading them towards a future without plastics.

by Kimberly B. Johnson 

Indulgent sweet treats are somewhat apart of American culture, like all the bite-sized chocolates we see around Christmas time or Valentine's Day. Would the gesture of a milk chocolate gift be as warm or romantic, however, if you knew it was produced using child slave labor?

Probably not. And this is the exact conundrum many chocolate producers have found themselves in over the years through inhumane means of production. 

(Photo: Unsplash / Michał Grosicki)

The cocoa bean is primarily found in Latin America and Western Africa, coming mostly from Ghana and the Ivory Coast where 70% of the world’s cocoa is reaped.

But back in 2010, Ivorian government authorities detained three newspaper journalists after they published an article exposing government corruption in the cocoa bean industry. The report found that at that time, farms in West Africa which supply cocoa to chocolate industry giants such as Hershey’s, Mars, and Nestlé were among some of the worst farms in terms of of child labor, human trafficking and slavery.

Somehow, the problem continues to go unseen on a large scale, although its consistently researched and reported on like in the 2010 documentary The Dark Side Of Chocolate and in major publications time and time again.

Some companies have made strides to rectify the issue of child slave labor in chocolate production, however. Hershey's reports a commitment towards sourcing 100 percent certified and sustainable cocoa for all of their products by 2020. Currently, the company is sourcing 75 percent of its chocolate from certified and sustainable growers.

Last year, Green America created this “Big Chocolate Scorecard” illustrating which companies are doing the best and worst to address sustainability and take on the child labor problem. Nestlé earned the highest score awarded (3.5 chocolate bars out of 5) among the big companies, reportedly for its high level of engagement with farmers through its Cocoa Plan program.

(Photo: Getty Images / The Washington Post)

The issue of child slave labor in the chocolate industry is still real, however. In some cases, families are in such dire means of desperation for the money companies contracted by the chocolate industry promise, that they sell their own children into the illegal and inhumane child labor industry. 

Abby Mills, Campaign Director of the International Labor Rights Forum, explains, “Every research study ever conducted in [Western Africa] shows that there is human trafficking going on, particularly in the Ivory Coast.”

Taken into context, the term “slavery” is used to represent some form of human rights violations, such as cases of physical violence like being whipped for working slowly or workers being locked in cages all night to prevent them from escaping. 

While major chocolate corporations have just begun to remedy the harm done by unregulated labor mills used to produce their products, the issue, however, isn't even with the companies directly, it's a lack of visibility or concern for the workers at the perceived lowest end of the totem pole. 

This is the exact reason practices like sourcing from "fair trade" food producers is so important. "Fair Trade is a partnership among food buyers and producers based on dialogue, transparency and respect.

The goal is to use humane and fair practices while achieving greater equity in international trade, contributing to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions and securing the rights for the marginalized producers and workers who are the backbone of these products. 

If we continue to accept and purchase products from companies who bypass and downplay a need for ethical means of production, we're only adding to the suffering of others for a moment of indulgent bliss. It's as we'd say, food for thought.

Konbini is an exciting, groundbreaking and fast growing digital media company. We live and breathe pop culture and are expert at crafting highly engaging and socially shareable stories. Whether it's the written word, imagery or video, we have developed a unique approach to content publication that resonates powerfully with our audience across the world. Our audience is defined by their pioneering attitudes and behaviours, and their ability to influence consumers across the globe.

PlushBeds is a leading online luxury mattress retailer and manufacturer, specializing in natural and organic latex mattresses. All of PlushBeds mattresses are hand crafted in the US with the best quality natural and organic materials - no chemicals, no pesticides, no adhesives, no dyes, no fillers, no synthetic blends. All of PlushBeds mattresses are GreenGuard Gold certified and come with a 100 night free trial. It is PlushBeds’ commitment to excellence in craftsmanship, sustainability, social responsibility and superior customer service, that has driven them to become America’s largest online distributor of natural and organic latex mattresses that are as affordable as they are indulgent.

Climate change is not a purely environmental issue, and neither is the fight for a sustainable food system. Regenerative agriculture, environmental justice, and diversity play a major role in navigating the future of these intertwined issues.

Climate change is having immense direct and indirect effects on individual human health and the stability of our societies and systems at large. It is a complex issue with drivers across industries, policies, and around the globe. Because of this diversity of sources and vast impacts, we need a multidisciplinary approach towards positive change, but this is largely hindered by existing boundaries—geographical and ideological—and organizational silos around how we talk about and approach the issue.

This term—organizational silos—is rooted in business-speak, referring to when parts of a company or industry don’t want to share information or work together for fear of undercutting their own priorities. Silos may form due to a lack of common language or organizational structure that does not allow for collaboration. With enormous cross-cutting issues like climate change and our broken food system, these silos dramatically reduce progress. We are entering the new territory of a climate-altered world without clear direction, in the face of limited resources and strained political relationships, and we need a multifaceted strategy and collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders for approaching these complex challenges.

Looking at these staggering tasks—climate change adaptation and mitigation—through the lens of the food system is helpful. Similar to climate change, issues within the industrial food system are complex and deeply intertwined with other social, environmental, and economic systems and stakeholders across the globe.

Agriculture is a major driver of climate change, but it also has the potential to be a solution. We’re here to advocate for regenerative agriculture and explore how it can guide our approach to the larger fight to “unsilo” efforts and join forces against climate change. For certain, a diversity of management techniques and knowledge systems are needed to address the twin issues of climate change and a degenerative, chemical-intensive food system. And, without a doubt, environmental justice is central to addressing both cases. A truly regenerative agricultural* system can restore soil health, sequester carbon, protect local communities, improve labor conditions, and provide healthier foods.

Using the Transition to Regenerative Agriculture as a Roadmap

The goal of regenerative agriculture is to restore rich soils that sequester and store carbon that would otherwise act as a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. But, proponents of this approach recognize that this does not happen in isolation. Regeneration’s climate benefits can only be realized when healthy farmlands combine with supported farmers and farmworkers, protected local environments, and informed and empowered consumers. These issues, from the local to global, are all intimately related.

As activist Vandana Shiva said: “Regenerative agriculture provides answers to the soil crisis, the food crisis, the health crisis, the climate crisis and the crisis of democracy."

Sure, but how?

We’re already seeing strong partnerships and support for this multi-faceted approach to a complex challenge. Civil society is creating strong alliances across race, gender, social, political, and economic issues—It Takes Roots and The Climate Justice Alliance, are two examples of this approach that joins advocacy, education, and empowerment. The efforts of nonprofit research centers like the Rodale Institute and state-level initiatives like the California Healthy Soils Initiative are supporting this transition with research, testing, and promotion of successful methods. Farmers pioneering regenerative agriculture are engaged and thriving, just look at Singing Frogs Farm. Businesses like Dr. Bronner’s and Patagonia are propelling the movement forward in the marketplace, and consumers will soon look for products that are Regenerative Organic Certified.

These stakeholders come from different silos—individuals, nonprofits, large businesses, and government—but all have the same goal of promoting regenerative agriculture and reducing climate change (along with many other benefits). While the regenerative agriculture movement is still in its early stages, this collaborative approach and systems-level thinking is right on. These groups chip away at the problem from many angles. With such a diversity of drivers and impacts in both climate change and the food system, we need equally unique and innovative solutions. This approach includes the voices of those who are traditionally marginalized to ensure the impacts are not just shifted to them.

Diversity’s Role in Smashing Silos

According to the 2012 USDA Agricultural Census, women were the primary operators (those managing the day-to-day) of 14 percent of farms in the United States, and minorities—including Spanish, Hispanic, Latino, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian, Black, African American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander—accounted for 9 percent.

This isn’t insignificant. Women and minorities were responsible for approximately $40 billion of the agricultural market that year. And, with this year’s census, we expect this to increase, as statistics show that beginning farmers are more likely to be female and more likely to be minorities. That’s not to mention the immense labor force of migratory and seasonal farmworkers, with population estimates around three million, 80 percent alone who are Hispanic.

Our world is diverse. Our food system is vast. The overarching lesson to be learned from this is the need for inclusivity and a justice-oriented approach to transition, whether we’re talking about the food system or global climate change.

Unlike chemical-intensive industrial farming, regenerative agriculture is knowledge-intensive and has much to gain from nonmainstream approaches and stakeholders. These farmers often have a strong interest in moving towards more sustainable and less chemical-intensive farming practices. Or, some beginning farmers are starting with these methods rather than having to transition to them. In many cases, farmers are pursuing regenerative agriculture because they have a passion for environmental regeneration and the wellbeing of farmers and farmworkers, but also because there is very real potential for greater revenues using these methods. A great example of this is Casitas Valley Farms, where they produce healthy food with methods that build soil, support pollinators, and care for those working on the farm.

From foodies to feminists, Standing Rock to Salinas, if we are going to break out of the silos and transition to more people- and place-based systems, we have much to learn from diversity. Indigenous, minority, and low-income communities are disproportionately exposed to pollutants and are hit hardest by environmental tragedies; they have much to contribute if we broaden our perspective to accept that these issues affect us all.

Regenerative agriculture will have major impacts in the realm of environmental justice, showing the potential and need for similar approaches in climate change. It has the potential for widespread social and economic benefits, not to mention environmental. These methods reduce water and air pollution, while increasing food access. They reduce pesticide use and, therefore, exposure of farmers and farmworkers to harmful chemicals. There’s the potential for green job creation and an increased bottom line for farmers making management decisions that protect their soils. In a regenerative system, immigrant’s rights and women’s rights stand alongside farmer and consumer advocacy.

It is our responsibility to ensure that all these voices are heard, especially those disproportionally affected by the many impacts of a broken food system and global climate change.

Regenerative agriculture thrives on diversity below ground and it cannot succeed in the fight against climate change and industrial agriculture without a diversity of people and efforts above ground. While the silos may seem unsurmountable at times, our diversity and breadth of experience and knowledge are our biggest assets. As more stakeholders join this agricultural movement and transition towards regeneration, the silos matter less and the ultimate goal becomes clearer.

*This is an exciting time in the worlds of sustainable agriculture and climate change mitigation, when these two fields have the opportunity to collaborate and reinforce one another. This partnership is in its early stages, and terminology is constantly evolving. Regenerative agriculture is a new term that is still being defined and debated. Green America is proud to be a part of this discussion and stands behind agriculture that builds healthy farmlands, supports farmers and farmworkers, protects local environments, benefits consumers, and contributes to the fight against climate change—regardless of the term used to describe it. The organization recognizes that implementation of these agriculture methods will always be site specific and depend on soil characters, crops grown, and local climates. Green America's long-term goal is agriculture production that is regenerative and meets the USDA organic standard, the best way to achieve this is through the Regenerative Organic Certification. Green America supports all farms reducing chemical inputs and enhancing soil preservation techniques to move closer to those twin goals.   

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Senior Bookkeeper/Accountant

Hours: 32 hours/week, Monday through Thursday

Salary: $44,000 - $48,000, contingent on experience

Benefits: Excellent benefits package, including health insurance, dental & vision coverage, sick days, holidays, and vacation                                                                                    

Supervisor: Director of Finance

Organizational Background

Green America is a national non-profit organization that mobilizes consumers, investors, and businesses to use their economic power to create an environmentally sustainable and socially just economy. We create change in the world with three strategic hubs: 1) Our Consumer Education & Action campaigns create consumer demand that sends signals to the market calling for change, 2) Our Green Business Network is proving that green innovation is not only good for people and our planet, it is also profitable and sustainable, and 3). Our Center for Sustainability Solutions brings together diverse stakeholders along entire supply chains to solve complex sustainability problems that no single business, organization, or leader can solve alone. 

We organize our national network of 250,000+ consumer activists, 2,000 Green Business Network members, and our growing list of corporate and supply chain partners around four core issue areas: 1) Safe Food & Sustainable Agriculture, 2) Clean Energy & Climate Action, 3) Fair Labor & Social Justice, and 4) Responsible Finance & Better Banking. 
 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Accounts Payable

• Process vendor invoices, employee travel reimbursements and other check requests and make payments via check and ACH.
• Insure that there are funds in the appropriate bank account to cover all required vendor payments
• Maintain the vendor file in Intacct including the Tax ID information (W9 or W8) and 1099 status for all vendors.
• Prepare and issue Form 1099 to all appropriate vendors.
• Reconcile the General Ledger Accounts Payable balance with the Accounts Payable sub ledger and Vendor Aging report.
• Maintain AP related forms and update as needed due to changes in the chart of accounts or department codes. 
• Review monthly bank reconciliations, verify that checks clear in a reasonable time frame and perform research as needed.

Payroll

• Enter employee information into the payroll system and process payroll on the scheduled dates.
• Review payroll reports and pay checks/stubs to verify that the payroll was processed accurately.
• Prepare journal entries to record all payroll related activity.
• Setup, process and monitor all payments to payroll related vendors (Metro, retirement, etc.) and tax agencies in a timely and accurate manner.
• Insure that there are funds in the appropriate bank account to cover all required payroll and related payments.
• Reconcile all relevant GL account balances with payroll and related reports.  Insure that all balance sheet and expense accounts match the payroll reports and create subsidiary Excel schedules when needed.

Revenue Journal Entries

• Obtain the necessary transaction source for all revenue related entries (cash based) and make the required journal entries into the accounting system.

Cash Management

• Monitor cash accounts and request transfers between accounts as needed so that payroll, accounts payable and other payments, including checks, ACH and wire transfers are fully funded.
• Prepare any intra-GA cash transfer entries and record in Intacct.
• Assist in the preparation of the monthly bank reconciliations, as needed.

Miscellaneous

• Work with Green America’s external auditors on the annual audit and tax return.
• Ability to work with and maintain confidential and sensitive information.

List of software this position will utilize:

• Intacct Accounting Software
• Paychex
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Online banking
• PayPal
• ACH via vendor sites
• Metro
• Retirement plan vendor

You will be a good fit for this position if:

• You’re well versed in financial concepts.
• You are meticulous as it relates to accuracy, detail and organization, and can work independently as needed in a high-volume environment.
• You recognize that an accounting and finance function in any organization has a responsibility to support other departments so that they can get their work done more efficiently.
• You have a solid understanding of accounting software, online banking, payroll software, and the Microsoft Office suite of software, and how to best use those tools to get the job done.

Qualified Candidates should have:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 3-5 years work experience in each of the job duties listed
• Outstanding references

Hours of Work:

• 9:00 to 5:00, Monday through Thursday, and some evenings and weekends as needed.  No telecommuting.

How to Apply:

Send cover letter and resume to hract@greenamerica.org.

No phone calls, please.

Green America is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination regarding: age, class and economic circumstance, ability/disability, physical appearance and body size, race, ethnicity, country of origin or nationality, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation and identity.

Green America values diversity within our staff, fellows, and interns. We believe the diversity of experiences, ideas, individuals, and organizations in our community and the sector makes us stronger. To create a more just and engaged world, we must embrace and celebrate diversity, practice inclusion, and exercise our role as a champion of equity.

View a larger version of the infographic here. 

This is an exciting time in the worlds of sustainable agriculture and climate change mitigation, when these two fields have the opportunity to collaborate and reinforce one another. This partnership is in its early stages, and terminology is constantly evolving. Regenerative agriculture is a new term that is still being defined and debated. Green America is proud to be a part of this discussion and stands behind agriculture that builds healthy farmlands, supports farmers and farmworkers, protects local environments, benefits consumers, and contributes to the fight against climate change—regardless of the term used to describe it. The organization recognizes that implementation of these agriculture methods will always be site specific and depend on soil characters, crops grown, and local climates. Green America's long-term goal is agriculture production that is regenerative and meets the USDA organic standard, the best way to achieve this is through the Regenerative Organic Certification. Green America supports all farms reducing chemical inputs and enhancing soil preservation techniques to move closer to those twin goals.   

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—DECEMBER 5, 2017 —Green America today launched the Re(store) It campaign to educate the public and U.S. corporations about the benefits of regenerative agriculture, an approach to farming which uses methods that rejuvenate the soil and trap greenhouse gases. The campaign will educate consumers about the importance of regenerative agriculture and offer ways to support it.

"We are in a farming crisis and we can no longer continue with our current industrialized, chemical-intensive system of agriculture,” said Anna Meyer, the food campaigns director at Green America. “If we want to sustain farming for future generations and reverse climate change, we must save the soil by adopting regenerative practices."

“We have already seen the power of consumer voice to push for more organic and non-GMO products,” said Jes Walton, food campaigns specialist at Green America. “Now it is time for consumers to demand a major shift in our food system and push for the mass adoption of regenerative agriculture, which has the potential for even more widespread benefits."

Regenerative agriculture harnesses the relationships between plants and soil microbes to pull excess carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it in plants and soils where it is a useful nutrient for farmers. These farming methods of storing carbon and re(storing) agricultural soils include: 

• Crop Rotation and Cover Cropping 
• Composting
• Zero to Low Tillage and Mulching
• Planting Perennials and Diverse Crops 

The Re(store) It campaign will release a series of blogs on topics ranging from carbon farming to Christmas Trees, all available at https://www.greenamerica.org/restore-it.  The campaign will help individuals to promote regenerative agriculture in their communities, support farmers who are leaders in restoring soil health, and encourage food companies to support regenerative agriculture through their supply chains.

The Re(store) It campaign builds on Green America’s prior food work, including its GMO Inside campaign, which over the past four years has successfully persuaded a dozen companies – including General Mills, Mars, Pepsi/Sabra – to remove GMOs from their products and move away from toxins in agriculture.

###

ABOUT GREEN AMERICA

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org

INFOGRAPHIC: Available at https://greenamerica.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/RestoreIt_Infographic.pdf

MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin for Green America, (703) 276-3255, or mkarlin@hastingsgroup.com

Local and organic foods have some climate benefits, but choose local, organic, AND regenerative for the greatest impact!

Our food choices are important. They affect our personal health, the wellbeing of farmers and rural communities, and the state of the environment. Increasingly, we’re coming to understand the major impacts food and agriculture have on the most pressing and comprehensive issue of our time—climate change.

As conscious consumers, it can be difficult to navigate and understand the many labels and claims that come with our food. Organic. Regenerative. Local. You may have come across these words in the grocery store, at farmers’ markets, or in restaurants. And—while local and organic are great all-around choices—if you care about solutions to climate change, regenerative organic agriculture* and healthy soils deserve some extra attention.

When talking about the food system, the climate changing greenhouse gases we’re most concerned about are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Human activities have increased the concentrations of these gases in our atmosphere, where they trap the sun’s heat and change the climate. Agriculture is a major contributor to climate change, but this could be lessened and even reversed with the adoption of organic, regenerative, and local practices.

Organic Agriculture: Great, But We Can Do Better

Organic is an easy place to start, because it has a legal definition with strict requirements. It prohibits the use of synthetic, nitrogen-based fertilizers that require a great deal of energy to produce (with associated carbon dioxide released) and turn into nitrous oxide if not managed correctly.

Organic agriculture diverts methane-producing waste from landfills, converting the waste to rich organic matter through composting. Organic methods may also reduce carbon dioxide emissions that come from transporting chemical inputs to farms, because these methods naturally enrich the soil with on-farm resources and eliminate the need for chemical inputs. The many benefits of organic agriculture have long been recognized, but of particular importance in this era of climate change is the fact that these richer soils are also better at sequestering carbon from the atmosphere.

New research shows that organic soils have the potential to store 26 percent more carbon than soils on conventional farms, resulting in less harmful carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Additional research from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization found that 40-65 percent of agricultural greenhouse gases could be offset if the world’s farmers switched to organic agriculture.

So, organic clearly has an important role in the fight against climate change, but why isn’t it the end-all, be-all?

It’s a great start, and any conventional agriculture that’s converted to organic agriculture is a step in the right direction. Organic methods help reduce emissions. But, they don’t explicitly focus on climate benefits—that is, the building and protecting of soils and their ability to sequester carbon and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere—which is where the major potential for reversal of climate change lies. Slowing emissions is important, but we’ve reached a point where removing the greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere is a priority.

Regenerative Organic Agriculture: Restoring Soils to Reverse Climate Change

In September 2017, several organizations joined together to create certification criteria for regenerative organic agriculture. The criteria use USDA organic requirements as a baseline, meaning they include all the benefits in the organic section above with, an additional focus on animal welfare, treatment of farmworkers, and restoring and protecting soils that act as sinks for carbon dioxide.

Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions is convening a carbon farming network that will focus on increasing the acreage under regenerative agricultural production by creating pathways for farmers to move along the spectrum of regenerative practices. The Center is also working throughout the supply chain to develop market support for regenerative agriculture production.

Important soil building practices in regenerative organic agriculture include composting, cover cropping, conservation tilling, planting perennial crops, and intensively managed grazing. Research from the Rodale Institute suggests that a switch to these regenerative methods has the potential to sequester 100 percent of current carbon dioxide emissions with numerous other social, environmental, and climate benefits.

You read that right. 100 percent!

Much of the research focuses on carbon, but the benefits of regenerative organic agriculture extend to other greenhouse gases. Conservation tillage reduces the release of nitrous oxide and methane into the air. Livestock produce less methane when grazed with regenerative methods on high quality pastures. Similarly, less methane and nitrogen dioxide are released from the excessive manure build up that is seen in CAFOs or other confined animal situations, because it is evenly distributed over pastureland in regenerative land management practices.

Local, Regenerative Organic Agriculture: The Best of All Worlds

While it might seem like regenerative organic agriculture is the answer, we have to consider the fact that all these climate benefits are negated if responsibly-grown food is shipped around the world to consumers. Of course, there are many complex elements to consider from field to fork, but local foods generally have a lower carbon footprint and higher nutritional value. So, we’re here to advocate for local, regenerative organic agriculture.

The majority of climate benefits associated with local food come from less transportation and, therefore, less carbon dioxide emitted. So, buying locally grown food limits the shipping distance, but it also reduces the energy and associated emissions that come with refrigeration, storage, and packaging that come with long distances. Local foods are often less processed, which is energy intensive, and the emphasis on seasonal eating has a ripple effect of reducing demand for foods shipped from far away.

It’s imperative to consider climate benefits when making food choices. Let’s make the ultimate goal to buy food that’s grown locally and produced using regenerative organic methods. Not sure how to do that? We encourage you to talk to vendors at farmers’ markets. If you find producers with methods you love, spread the word through your networks on social media or word of mouth. Fill out comment cards at grocery stores and speak directly to managers at food retailers.

Let them know the climate matters to you. 

*This is an exciting time in the worlds of sustainable agriculture and climate change mitigation, when these two fields have the opportunity to collaborate and reinforce one another. This partnership is in its early stages, and terminology is constantly evolving. Regenerative agriculture is a new term that is still being defined and debated. Green America is proud to be a part of this discussion and stands behind agriculture that builds healthy farmlands, supports farmers and farmworkers, protects local environments, benefits consumers, and contributes to the fight against climate change—regardless of the term used to describe it. The organization recognizes that implementation of these agriculture methods will always be site specific and depend on soil characters, crops grown, and local climates. Green America's long-term goal is agriculture production that is regenerative and meets the USDA organic standard, the best way to achieve this is through the Regenerative Organic Certification. Green America supports all farms reducing chemical inputs and enhancing soil preservation techniques to move closer to those twin goals.   

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Christmas trees in the United States are a big deal. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, 25-30 million are sold every year. Many environmentalists cringe at this thought, but there are lots of options for making this once-a-year practice more sustainable.

Rent a Tree!

Yes, you read that right. Find a local business that grows live potted trees, delivers them to your doorstep, and then picks them up after Christmas. These trees are less of a fire hazard, help your indoor air quality, and drop less of those annoying pine needles everywhere.

Feeling attached to your tree? Don’t worry. Hug away. And, you can rent the same one year after year.

Start a Personal Forest?

Okay, so you’re ready to commit? Then this option might be right for you: you can purchase a live tree with root ball intact. After Christmas, remove the decorations and give the tree a new life outside in your yard or in a nearby forest. You might also consider a non-traditional option, like a fruit tree or other plant that might better compliment your space.

Here’s some guidance around tree planting.

No, I Like the Tradition of a Cut Tree.

That’s okay! As these trees grow on the farm, they release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. You can opt to cut one yourself on National Forest land. The US Forest Service guidelines help ensure that you remove trees in a responsible manner that may even benefit the forest.

Or, visit your local tree farm! Christmas tree farms provide around 100,000 jobs, which is something you can feel good about. Choose organic where you can, so you’re not exposing the environment or your home to toxic chemicals.

After Christmas, make sure to recycle your cut tree at one of 4,000 recycling centers across the country, where it can be turned into mulch or otherwise used in conservation and restoration efforts. Many towns have local pick up service as well.

The Great Christmas Tree Debate: Fake or Real, which is Best?

You might notice that we didn’t include artificial trees in our list of sustainable options.

There are many reasons for this. Artificial trees are made from petroleum-based products and many contain chemicals that are harmful during production, in your home, and after they’re discarded. 85 percent of these trees are imported from China, so their carbon footprint is quite large. And, while many point to the long-life of these trees, consumers only keep them for an average of 6 years before they are sent to spend eternity in a landfill, where they have many negative impacts. If you’re interested in an artificial tree, see if you can rescue a used one!

Why do we support real Christmas trees as a more environmental option? Well, their climate impact is one major reason. Like all plants, Christmas trees grow by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air; this carbon makes up around half of the tree’s dry weight. So, these trees spend their average lifespan of 7 years providing this service, and they are ultimately biodegradable. When you buy a real Christmas tree from a farm, it’s a crop grown specifically for this purpose, oftentimes on soil that can’t support other agriculture. And, while it’s growing, it may be preserving green space and habitats.

Research shows that the amount of carbon dioxide released from an artificial tree’s life cycle is around 18 pounds per year (based on its average 6 years of use), whereas a real tree releases around 7 pounds (if the tree is incinerated after use).

Note that when a tree is burned or otherwise allowed to decompose, the tree’s carbon is released back into the air—a major reason why we advocate for real trees that live past the holiday season.

Bonus, there IS a Regenerative Option!

Check out this Christmas tree farm that uses regenerative methods. These farmers are coppicing trees to produce a new Christmas tree every decade on rootstocks that have been around since the 1950s! Less disturbance of the soils means more carbon sequestered or drawn out of the atmosphere, so you can feel great about the climate benefits of this option. This is our #1 recommendation for the greenest possible Christmas trees, but only those near the Massachusetts farm may really be able to benefit.

Maggie’s Organics began in 1992, when an organic blue-corn farmer inadvertently taught us the ‘true cost’ of conventional cotton growing. Once we learned that cotton is the second most pesticide-laden crop on Earth, responsible for 10 percent of the world’s pesticide consumption, and nearly 25 percent of the earth’s insecticides, we knew we had to find a different path.

Having no business models to follow, we took our newly harvested organic cotton to various US mills, and quickly realized that the pesticides were only the tip of a confusing, convoluted and chemical-laden supply chain that included heavy metal dyestuffs, formaldehyde, and disenfranchised piece-paid workers.

We set our sights on changing the apparel industry by creating basic, comfortable, durable and affordable clothing while treating both the earth and all human resources with dignity and respect.

Twenty-one years and many successes, failures, awards, and tears later, today our line of socks, tights, leggings, scarves, hairware and apparel are made from organic wool and organic cotton grown by close to 3000 family farmers, and are produced by three supply chains that include worker-owned cooperatives, family-owned and -operated U.S. sock mills, and long-term relationships (more below).

We are thrilled to be nominated for this award, as Green America's members and staff have played such a key role in our growth and success. Green America has always been there: connecting us to like-minded creative business leaders, serving as our sounding board when we could see only failure, challenging us to keep going when obstacles seemed insurmountable, inspiring us to connect with consumers who really do care.

If chosen for this award, we will dedicate the funds to bringing more of our cooperative producers to meet and interact with our customers, through seminars and educational events. It is our belief that this connection can truly change the world.

http://www.maggiesorganics.com/

Bio-Beetle was the very first to rent out 100-percent biodiesel cars and offer the most eco-friendly cars into the rental world. Ethical living and sustainability is our driving force. Shaun Stenshol and Pamela Miedtke-Wolf started Bio-Beetle in 2003, with the idea of showing people that green options are available, today. If someone needs to drive, they can reduce their fossil fuel use and help make a difference.

"We live by our beliefs and we will only do business in the same way," says Pamela. "We rent the most eco-friendly cars available in Maui -- biodiesel, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and 100-percent electric. But more than just green cars, we strive to make everything about the company green while doing as much for our renters, as for the planet."

Bio-Beetle began with one biodiesel car, fueled with sustainable biodiesel made on Maui from recycled cooking oil. After adding several more biodiesel cars over the years (Beetles, Golfs, Jettas, a Jeep Liberty), Bio-Beetle added the most fuel-efficient hybrid they could get, a Toyota Prius, and most recently the gas/electric Chevy Volt, and 100-percent electric Nissan Leaf.

Renting a car from Bio-Beetle is not all that different from renting from the other guys, the prices are comparable, and in most cases renters will get picked up curbside at the airport, or cars can be delivered elsewhere on the island of Maui. But you also deal with a real person, meaning better customer service and a more personable atmosphere. 
In the cars, Bio-Beetle uses Earth-friendly coolants, synthetic engine oil, and nontoxic cleaners, which are okay for individuals with chemical sensitivity.

Bio-Beetle also lends out, for free, coolers, boogie boards, beach accessories, reusable shopping bags, local hiking books, etc., to help reduce needless consumerism, particularly of throwaway items that hurt the planet, making our renters' trips more economical and eco-friendly.

Bio-Beetle is a big believer in the concept of "reduce/reuse/recycle/repurpose," always using 100-percent recycled or tree-free paper in the office, organic cotton or resale clothes, and recycled items when available. Bio-Beetle logo shirts were made in the USA with organic cotton grown in the USA. Plus we encourage renters to bring in the recyclables they accumulate during their Maui stay and choose other eco-travel options when available.

Shaun and Pam truly believe in zero waste. Besides renting cars, they also own and operate a recycling company, they live off-grid, with solar energy, and a rainwater catchment. They're vegan, and grow a lot of their own food. Plus they created a cat sanctuary for around 100 homeless cats that had nowhere else to go.

" We believe it is important to know where your money goes," says Pam. "Just because you might be able to rent a hybrid now, from another rental company, for example, what does your money support? It matters! We’re trying to give people who come to Maui the greenest options available. Thank you Green America, for choosing us as a finalist, in the People & Planet awards, and for the opportunity to share what we are doing. If Bio-Beetle is awarded the $5,000, we will use it to help add another car to the fleet, plus help pay for cat food!"

Agriculture and crop production rely on photosynthesis to combine sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide for plant growth. This carbon dioxide is pulled from the air—a process known as sequestration—and used to build plant matter, roots, and soil.  

Regenerative agriculture* focuses on keeping this carbon out of the air, where it acts as a greenhouse-warming gas, and using it as a fertilizer in the soil. It also aims to keep carbon that originated from the soil in place. The practices that help keep carbon underground include: zero to low tillage, mulching, cover cropping, crop rotation, composting, planting perennials and diverse crops, and managed grazing.  

These methods limit or reduce the disturbance of fields and pastures, so soil carbon isn’t exposed to the air and oxidized into carbon dioxide. The methods also focus on keeping the delicate soil communities healthy and protected by covering the soil, feeding it rich organic matter at many depths, and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals like pesticides and herbicides.  

Download the PDF of the infographic here. Want more details? View the infographic sources here. 

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Explore Maui’s road to Hāna, Haleakalā National Park, Iao Valley, Upcountry Maui, Makawao and more on one of our 3 Maui tours. Experience a majestic Haleakalā sunrise or journey down the road to Hāna to find a black sand beach, waterfalls and incredible coastal vistas. Mauiʻs mountains are on full display during our Volcanoes of Maui tour, visit the spectacular Iao Valley & Summit of Haleakalā  in our custom passenger cruisers, that are built for Mauiʻs roads so you can see it all totally relaxed and stress-free. Comfortably walk-into our industry leading wide captain seats and oversized viewing windows. We make sure a day with Valley Isle Excursions’ Certified, expert tour guides is your best day on Maui. Learn more at tourmaui.com

Fed By Threads is the first American-Made "Supply Chain Aware" organic sweatshop-free boutique clothing store and custom print apparel business that only carries certified responsibly manufactured products, and provides emergency meals through the purchase of our ethical apparel.

Since 2012, we have donated over 550,000 meals to some of the 45 million Americans facing food insecurity in the richest country in the world where we collectively throw out 30-40 percentof our food.

By supporting food banks across the country, food that was headed for landfills is redirected to families struggling to put meals on the table. We only carry designers who produce inside the United States paying living wages who use only sustainable cruelty-free fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, recycled plastic bottles that reduce our collective carbon footprint.

Sustainability for us means thinking about the farm workers, the soil quality and run-off, price per lb. of raw product, wages for the mill workers, the labor conditions in the cut & sew factories and how we can reduce the use of chemical pesticides, protect air quality, while educating future consumers to be aware of the impact of their choices.

Fed By Threads is about mobilizing a consumer awareness that doesn't require customers to be revolutionaries. Our customers are making a positive impact in the lives' of people they will never meet.  The long term solution to hunger and inequality is personally-rewarding employment and livable-wage jobs that offer dignity and respect.

Our mission supports de-globalizing fashion and redefining what the triple bottom line means:
Humanitarian + Organic + Made Locally to benefit Locally.

Beyond that, the underlying message is love and respect: The clothing we wear has many stories and truths woven into it, so our goal is to offer our customers the ability to have their dollars vote for a better world that values high-quality, long-lasting craftsmanship as well as positive community and environmental impact. Each time an individual chooses Fed By Threads they are affecting how to "change clothes" responsibly when they manage their closets and create ripple effects that make a difference.

At Fed By Threads, we are proactive about improving global labor markets and positively effecting climate change. We understand, individually, evolving global manufacturing systems is a monumentally difficult task, but like gravel, one grain at a time can redirect a river.

Founded in 2006 by a handful of “pragmatic idealists” with years of experience in the apparel industry, Fair Indigo believes when fashion is done right, everyone profits: discerning consumers, farmers, garment workers, and the earth we share.

Our journey has been daunting, humbling, and uplifting. After a strong start, we were nearly wiped out by the financial crisis of 2008 and lost three quarters of our employees. Since then we’ve bootstrapped our way back, focusing on what we do best.

First, we select only the best premium materials because we strongly believe that one of the best ways to reduce our carbon footprint is by building clothes that last.  Our Fair Indigo Label garments are made with organic Peruvian pima cotton and dyed with Oeko-tex certified dyes. They’ll endure through years, yes years, of enthusiastic wearing without pilling or shrinking.

For clothing to last, it also needs to be Forever in Fashion. At Fair Indigo, you won’t find Fast Fashion fads, this season’s “must have” whatever, or a slavish devotion to the “Color of the Year,” however garish. As our Style Manager Stacy likes to say, “pretty colors are always in style.”  Our Better Basics are the building blocks to an ethical wardrobe.

Our Joobles organic stuffed animals and accessories are hand knit by Peruvian artisans who proudly share their talents to craft magical characters for babies, kids, and kids at heart – without the worry of harmful chemicals or toy sweatshops.

Taking care of the earth is only half the equation to a cleaner closet. We also must take care of its inhabitants. Our cooperative members and small business employees in Peru are paid fairly, treated with dignity and respect. We visit them every year. Have lunch with them. Listen to their ideas. Laugh with them. Dream with them. When we ask what’s the one thing we could do to make their lives better, with rare exception, their answer is always the same: “send more work.”

The Fair Indigo Foundation supports education in the communities where we make our products. With customers’ $5 donations at checkout, we have been able to support two schools with hiring of teachers, building improvements, and school supplies.

If we win this prize, we would like to create a short video to share the stories of our friends in Peru. We are honored to work with them to bring the world Style with a Conscience. 

The average American tosses 4.4 pounds of trash per day. This seems insignificant, but with 323.7 million people living in the United States, that’s roughly 728,000 tons of daily garbage. The annual garbage weight for the entire country equals 254 million tons, equivalent to 1.2 million blue whales –enough to reach the moon and back 25 times, which is why zero waste is key.

These numbers are intimidating, but once business waste is added to the equation, the numbers only increase. Apple Inc. alone has sold over 570 million smartphones since the first iPhone in 2007 and recovered only 40,000 tons of e-waste in 2014. This does not account for the toxic waste created during the production cycle and iPhones that have been irresponsibly discarded or forgotten in a drawer. After Samsung's disastrous Note 7 recall in 2016, more than 4.3 million phones were considered unsafe.

Going from tons of waste to zero waste

So how does a business, with complex supply chains and consumer-producer relationships, become zero waste? Thrive Market, a certified member of the Green Business Network, sets an example: by committing more than 90% of their waste to go to recycling centers, be reused, donated or composted, they have diverted virtually all of their waste from landfills. They recently announced that they have surpassed this goal at two of their fulfillment centers.

Zero waste is also good for the bottom line. Epson in Portland, Oregon reduced waste to zero and has saved $300,000 and Xerox Corp., Rochester, New York has had a Waste-Free Factory environmental performance goal since the early 1990s, with a savings of $45 million in 1998.

Although zero waste at all ends of the supply chain is the final goal, zero landfill may be easier as an initial first step. It’s important to note that zero landfill goals should prioritize reuse and recycling streams, not incinerators; burning waste does not actually reduce consumption and can lead to other harmful environmental issues or workplace situations. Zero landfill goals can help businesses learn to divert waste from the production cycle, reduce disposal costs and maximize efficiency. This process can foster proper recycling habits, such as washing items of food or particle debris before sorting. Additionally, reinventing packaging to be minimal, recyclable or compostable can improve material flows, manufacturing efficiency and product appearance to the consumer.

Starting small is key

For organizations and businesses interested in zero waste or zero landfill goals, it may help to start small and build momentum. Restaurants purchasing biodegradable straws or partnering with food redistribution or composting organizations divert landfill waste and achieve zero waste goals. Color-coding packages by its recycling facility or redesigning training programs are all steps towards greening your business.  Small but achievable goals satisfy consumers, shareholders, and employees; these steps chip away at unsustainable but convenient habits.

Monitoring the life of a product after it has been purchased is more of a challenge. Apple offers a free reuse and recycling program for old iPhones, iPads, and computers in an attempt to recover and recycle as much e-waste as possible. Customers who may not want to return products for ecological purposes are incentivized with the possibility that their product may qualify for a gift card. This example can model a way for other businesses with products that can also be recycled or reused. Samsung also has a recycling program in an effort to reuse, refurbish, and reduce their e-waste.

Zero waste and zero landfill are very appealing terms; however, we caution consumers to be aware that these terms do not necessarily hold value without prior research into business practices. At the Green Business Network, we vet all of our certified members to ensure that they practice what they preach in both social justice and sustainability. Certified zero waste and zero landfill organizations are becoming the standard across the country as the movement towards a holistic green economy grows.

Kerabotanica is a Professional hair care brand that has created revolutionary hair care with high performance & without damaging ingredients. We've formulated the World’s First Certified-Organic Shampoo & Conditioner.

Visit www.kerabotanica.com to learn more.

Coming soon.

What are “CDFIs” and what is community investing?

Community development financial institutions (or CDFIs), are banks, credit unions, and other financial-services organizations, such as community development loan funds, that measure their returns both in terms of financial profitability and social impact. They operate with the express goal of creating resources and opportunities for groups, businesses, and individuals who are under-served by traditional financial institutions. When you choose to place your banking or investment dollars with CDFIs to help further these goals, you are participating in community investing.

Community investors help finance projects that lift communities economically. In rural and urban areas (and internationally), community investors provide capital that supports job creation, financial services to low-income individuals, start-up funds for small businesses, loans for affordable housing, and more.

In other words, community investing helps you to maximize the social change created by your banking and investment dollars. (Read stories of community investing successes here, and here, and here.)

Community investing has grown significantly over the last 15 years. As of 2010, CDFIs held assets of $41.7 billion, more than ten times their holdings in 1995. The rapid growth seen starting in 2007 has been attributed in part to consumer dissatisfaction with conventional banks as the US recession unfolded.*

How safe are community investments?

All personal holdings in banks and credit unions (including community investment banks and credit unions) are insured up to $250,000 per financial institution by the federal government. You don’t have to worry about losing any money up to that cap. Shifting your checking or savings accounts to a community development bank or credit union should be a largely seamless shift that can make a real difference in how you use your money to support your social and environmental goals. (Read our profile of one Green American who “broke up with her bank” here.)

Community development loan funds — like conventional loan funds — are not insured by the FDIC. Still, of the 508 community development financial institutions surveyed through the CDFI Data Project through 2007 (the latest date for which data is available), none have reported that they have ever lost any investor principal.

How have community investing banks fared during the global economic crisis?

The recession has certainly taken its toll on all sectors of the economy, but in the banking world, those most harmed by the housing collapse were those involved in predatory, abusive, and profiteering lending practices — sourcing toxic assets like sub-prime loans, for example. These practices, which caused so much turmoil for the economy, sit squarely at odds with the standard operating practice of community development banks and credit unions.

According to the FDIC, in 2009 a total of 140 US banks failed, up from 28 in 2008, and the highest overall total since 1992. Of these, the National Community Investment Fund (NCIF) reports that only one was a community development bank. Exact numbers for 2010 were not available at the time of this guide’s publication, though published estimates from the FDIC and NCIF indicate a year similar to 2009.

Meanwhile, the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions reports that deposits in its sector have actually outpaced the growth of conventional credit unions during the recession. Its 2009 financial trends report found that community development credit unions (CDCUs) experienced significant increases in membership, deposits, and size of their loan portfolios in 2009.What’s more, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of February 2009 appropriated an extra $100 million to CDFIs certified as such by the government, enhancing their lending capacities.

In testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, CDFI Fund director Donna Gambrell said, “The new economic environment has offered very real opportunities for CDFIs to expand their impact in the communities they serve. ... We are uniquely positioned to serve low-income and economically distressed communities.”

And in a July 2010 article comparing CDFI performance with conventional banks’ performance during the recession, analyst Bob Adkins of Community Bank Ventures showed that while CDFIs’ return on assets (ROA) have lagged behind their conventional counterparts, they also continued strong growth throughout 2008, while the rest of the economy contracted. Explains Adkins: “There has been a pent-up need for products and services offered by CDFI banks in the communities they serve, as many of these communities have been under-served by traditional banks.” For more on the economic crisis and CDFIs, see this article.

Besides banking, what other community investing options are available?

Lots! Community development loan funds provide financing for cooperatives, green businesses, nonprofit organizations, and economic development projects. Microenterprise loan funds provide small loans to entrepreneurs in the US and overseas. Community development venture capital funds provide loans to businesses creating jobs for low-income communities, and some socially responsible mutual funds devote up to ten percent of their assets to community investing. You can even find credit cards through community development banks. Remember that it’s only accounts at community development banks and credit unions that are federally insured up to $250,000. Loan funds, venture capital funds, and other vehicles are not insured, so the risk is higher. As with all investment options, you or your financial adviser should investigate them thoroughly to ensure they meet your social and financial goals. (Find a clickable list of resources in the online PDF version of our Community Investing Guide, also available for purchase as a print magazine.)

Do I need large sums of money to invest in communities?

You do not need large sums of money to invest in communities. Many options have low or no minimum amounts.

What impact will community investing have on my investment returns?

If you choose to shift your checking or savings account to a CDFI, or dump your mega-bank credit card in favor of a CDFI-sponsored credit card, you should find that interest rates and other terms will be comparable to those at traditional banks and credit unions.

With community development loan funds and micro enterprise funds, the return on investment will usually run between zero and four percent. In a roaring market, your returns might be more modest than other investment vehicles. In a faltering market, when many stocks begin paying negative returns, returns on community investments may turn out comparatively better.

Either way, the social returns are greater with community investments, and no matter what type of market we’re in, experts agree that investors should diversify their portfolios to minimize risk. Community investing can be a healthy part of a diversified portfolio.

Why not just give the money to charity?

A potential $20 reduction in the return on a community investment vs. a conventional investment vastly exceeds the social-change capabilities of a $20 gift to charity.

What’s more, community investing can be much more empowering for low-income individuals looking to use their own skills and talents to lift themselves economically. Your money’s power to change a community ripples out from the initial borrower who then embarks on a venture that will provide education, jobs, clean energy, child care, or any number of other critical business and infrastructure needs for their local community.

Continue to be generous in giving to charity, and then also consider breaking up with your mega-bank, and moving at least one percent of your portfolio into community investing.

*Chart created by the Social Investment Forum Foundation for the 2010 Report on Socially Responsible Investing Trends in the United States, using data from the Aspen Institute, Calvert Foundation, CDFI Data Project, CDVCA, National Community Investment Fund, National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, and Opportunity Finance Network.

The road to financial health starts with embracing a “shift to thrift.” By spending less and saving more, you’ll not only save the planet’s precious resources, but you’ll avoid extra debt and pave the way toward a secure retirement.

The best way to save more is to take a close look at your finances and create a financial plan. 

You (Yes, You!) Need a Budget

The best way to begin creating your financial plan is to take a close look at the state of your finances. By examining how much money you earn and where you spend it, you can create a lean budget that will get you through tough times and beyond.

“Taking charge of your money—really doing the things you want to do with your money—all starts with the foundation of a spending plan, otherwise known as a budget,” says Carrie VanWinkle, a financial advisor with Just Money Advisors in Louisville, KY. “For a lot of people, it’s the most challenging part of their financial life.”

Follow these steps to figure out your finances:

1. Write down your net monthly income.
2. Figure out all of your fixed monthly expenses, such as rent or mortgage payments, retirement contribution, utility bills, food, child care, insurance payments, student loans, and credit card or other debt payments.
3. Subtract your total monthly fixed expenses from your net monthly income. What’s left over is your discretionary income.

There are many online budget calculators that can help you scrutinize your finances, such as from Mapping Your Future.

Figure out what your savings goals are:

• Do you need to put away more money for retirement or for college?
• Do you need to establish an emergency fund (experts recommend having at least three month’s worth of your salary on hand for times of need)?
• Are you planning an expensive trip or do you need to save for a new car? 

A solid budget can help you figure out how you can trim your fixed expenses and save more of your discretionary income to meet your goals.

Apps Can Make It a Snap

The challenge of creating a budget has gotten easier, thanks to new technology. A variety of mobile apps have become available to help you set a spending plan and keep track of your spending in real time. You can even connect your budget with your bank and investment accounts, use your phone to track your spending, and understand where you’re spending your money without saving bothersome paper receipts or statements. 

Mint is the most popular budgeting software and app out there, with over 10 million registered users. It started as an online budgeting system and adapted quickly to the need for mobile apps, so you can now access Mint on your computer, phone, and tablet. *Editor's note: Mint shut down in 2023. However, free alternatives like Empower and Rocket Money work nearly exactly the same.

Empower and Rocket Money allow you to see the big picture of your finances in one place by linking with all bank, investment, and credit card accounts. Then it breaks down your expenses so you can see how much you’re spending in different categories, like restaurants, groceries, entertainment, and more. Using expense analysis, you can create a realistic spending plan based on your historical spending patterns.

To track your finances fully, Empower and Rocket Money requires your bank login info, credit card numbers, and other account information. It keeps this information encrypted, and no funds can be moved or transferred through it. However, this type of online disclosure may make some budgeters squirm, so VanWinkle urges you to only reveal your financial information at your comfort level.

There are plenty of apps that can help you track your budget without linking to your accounts. VanWinkle recommends You Need a Budget (YNAB), an online and mobile budgeting program that allows you to enter in the amount of information you desire about your different accounts without actually linking to them. In addition to helping you create a living budget, producing reports about how you spend, enabling you to set up regular transactions, and more. YNAB also offers budgeting webinars online.

Track Daily Spending

If you want to track your spending, but you don’t need or want the more detailed reports that Rocket Money and Empower provide, there are many mobile app options.

Imagine you used only cash, but you knew that $200 of it was for savings, $30 was reserved to fill up your gas tank, and you had to save $1,000 to pay your rent. You might separate this cash into different envelopes for each category to keep it reserved for the right purpose, and to help assess how much money you have left for the rest of the month.

This is called envelope budgeting, and you can electronically keep track of all your finances this way through Goodbudget, formerly known as Easy Envelope Budgeting Aid.

When you set up Goodbudget, you’ll create virtual “envelopes” based on how you want to spend your money every month. The app will also ask for your income information, to match it up with envelope expenses. Anytime you make a purchase or payment, you enter it into the app and choose which “envelope” to take the money from.

“The envelope method sounds very simple, but I’ve seen people reach some amazing financial goals this way,” says VanWinkle.

Another app available in the Android store, Wallet Master, is even simpler than Goodbudget. Rather than setting up envelopes, you set a spending goal for the week or month. You then enter in any purchases you make and categorize these purchases as you go. This enables you to look at what is available in your budget as a whole and also visualize where your money is going.

Stick to It

Maybe you’ve created a spending plan but want extra help sticking to that budget. Try out a “shopping list app.”

Of the dozens of shopping list apps out there, Out of Milk is one of the most popular. It allows you to build different shopping lists for different stores or needs, entering prices for all of the items on your list. This feature allows you to see the expected total of your shopping list and know if it falls within your budget, or whether you need to cut out that mocha latte you were planning to get. 

You can even build up your Out of Milk “pantry,” which is a list of items you always like to have stocked at home. Use this feature to move commonly purchased items over to your shopping list with ease. A bar code reader within the app makes it easy to add items to your list at the store, and the app will also search online for local deals near your zip code.

You can also use this app to track your savings. This writer created a list called “Things I Didn’t Buy,” where I added things that I was tempted to splurge on but didn’t. Seeing these items add up helps me realize that making small decisions to save can have bigger outcomes.

Live Green, Save More

Living green means learning the art of elegant simplicity—saving more for your retirement, buying only what you need, and supporting the green economy when you do make a purchase. Creating and sticking to a budget is a great way to plan for that. Plus, says VanWinkle, it’s also an important step toward financial wellness.

“The first time someone buys a car with cash, pays off student loan debt before age 40, or dedicates a certain amount of money to creating positive impact in the world: these are all life-changing experiences that allow you to live in a more relaxed space financially,” says VanWinkle. “A good budget is the tool that gets us there.”

Updated January 2025.

When most people think of the variety of apples only a few names come to mind, such as Fuji, Granny Smith, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Red Delicious – these are your staple grocery store apple varieties. But there are so many more! According to the US Apple Association, a trade association for apple growers, “there are over 100 apple varieties grown commercially in the US,” but only 15 varieties make up 90% of the apple sales.” These are pretty ridiculous numbers when you consider that there are over 2,500 varieties of apples grown in the US and 7,500 varieties grown throughout the world.

Each apple has its own characteristics. Apples differ in taste (sweet v. tart), coloring, and crispness. Heirloom varieties are those that “have been bred by orchardists over the centuries for a wide range of tastes, textures, sizes, and shapes.” Orchardists have maintained and protected these varieties for years, making sure that we don’t lose them in favor of more commercially appealing varieties. Heirloom apples tend to be much more complex in their flavoring and serve a variety of different persons.

Beyond flavor another reason to step outside the traditional variety apples is the recent introduction of genetically engineered (GE) apples into produce sections. Arctic apples, the recently released non-browning GE apples, are now available at grocery stores in the Midwest, and will likely be sold in other regions in the near future. Currently, the Golden Delicious is the only GE apple available, but the Granny Smith and Fuji are next on the list of GE apple varietiesplanned to be released.

When picking an apple, it is also important to consider how your apples are grown. The majority of an apples’ nutrients and fiber are stored in the peel of the apple. The peel is also the area most likely to be directly exposed to pesticides. Make sure to buy organic apples and ask your local apple grower what type of pest management is used on their farm.

Tips to Finding the Perfect Heirloom Apple 

For the most part heirloom apple varieties aren’t going to be found at your local grocery store. Since it is apple season you might luck out with some locally grown varieties at your local natural foods store, but more likely than not you’re going to have to do a bit of apple hunting. The first place to stop is your local farmer’s market, you will likely stumble upon a seller or two with heirloom varieties. If you don’t see any apples at the market, go ahead and ask some of the farmers there and the farmer’s market staff if they know any local apple farms in the area, it could be that they just aren’t at the market that day. If your local market doesn’t pan out, the internet has lots of resources to find your local heirloom apple sellers, for example New York State has an apple locator, helping you find heirloom varieties being sold at farmer’s markets and pick-your-own orchards throughout the state.

Another great option to make sure that you have organic heirloom apples for years to come – grow them yourself! Now this takes a bit more planning and quite a bit of patience, as apple trees don’t fruit the first few years they are planted. Homesteading.com has a great list of 16 heirloom varieties and what regions they thrive in and what they can best be used for. If you don’t have a place to plant your own apple tree, see if you can split the cost of a tree with a friend and then share in the bounty for years to come.

Once you have your bushel of apples there are so many ways to put them to use. You can make apple sauce, apple butter, apple pie (recipe below!), apple cider, and the list goes on and on. We recommend hosting a holiday apple tasting party. Apples pair well with so many things, but they are also quite delicious on their own. Pick up a few varieties of apples at your local farmer’s market or fruit stand and gather a group together for an apple tasting. Just like a fine wine an apple can be recognized by its varying flavor notes. This is also a great way to share new varieties of apples with friends and families and educate your neighbors about the need to avoid the GE varieties that are now on the market.

Just below is one of our favorite apple pie recipes. But if you want options, check out this list of 36 different apple pie recipes. Don’t forget all apples are not created equal so make sure to adjust the recipe based off the sweetness or tartness of your apples.

Deep Dish Apple Pie Crumble by the Minimalist Baker
* Use organic, non-GMO ingredients whenever possible.

Ingredients 

Pie Crust

• 1 heaping cup of organic unbleached all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons organic cold butter
• 3-6 tablespoons cold water>

Filling

• 7 organic heirloom apples, cored, peeled, and sliced (best with a mix of different varieties)
• scant ¾ cup organic sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon organic flour
• 1 tablespoon organic butter

Crumble Topping

• 1 cup rolled organic oats
• ½ cup organic almond meal>
• ½ cup roughly chopped organic pecans
• ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar>
• pinch of sea salt>
• 4 tablespoons cold butter

Preheat the oven to 400° F.

For the crust: Mix salt in flour and cut butter into flour with a fork until well blended. Add enough water until the dough scrapes away from the bowl – usually about 3-5 tablespoons. Remove from the bowl and mold together with your hands on a well-floured surface. Form the dough into a 1-inch thick disc and then roll out into an even circle, adding more flour if it’s sticky.

Use a rolling pin to roll it up and lay gently over a 10-inch cast iron skillet or pie baking dish and gently form the edges with your fingers. The crust should extend to the top of the pan, no need to crimp the edges. Refrigerate until you’re ready to add the apples.

Next prep the apples by tossing them in sugar, cinnamon, and flour – feel free to reuse the bowl you made the dough in. Add to chilled pie crust and top with 1 tablespoon butter, scored into little pieces.

In the same bowl, mix the topping ingredients using your fingers or a fork to combine and crumble. Pour the topping mixture over the pie, spreading evenly to coat. Bake at 400° F for 35-45 minutes, or until the pie is warm and bubbly and the top is golden brown. If you notice the crumble top getting too brown, simply top it with foil.

Let rest for 30 minutes before slicing. Consume in one sitting.

We asked our members and e-news subscribers, and others to send us their best going-green-on-a-budget strategies. Some of the best and most-often-mentioned ideas appear below.

14 Tips to Go Green And Save Money

1. Grow Your Own

“The biggest thing I’m doing this year is growing my own vegetable garden. It will be organic, and it doesn’t get any more local than my own back yard. Plus, it’s one heck of a money saver. It will even help me build community, because I will surely have extra fruits and vegetables to share with my neighbors.”

2. One Less Car

“I don’t own a car. Even in the cold Minnesota winters you’ll find me biking. Riding a bicycle obviously saves money and resources, but I believe it also builds community. When I am on a bicycle, I feel more connected to my surroundings, and I’m more approachable. I’m always saying hello to people as I ride past, whereas in a car, that interaction would be lost.”

3. One Less Car, Part Two

“Although I get 48 miles per gallon with my hybrid car, I still make every effort to plan my trips to avoid needless driving, to carpool, and to take public transportation and telecommute, as often as possible. I write and call my political leaders in support of laws and funding for mass transit, and for greener cars.”

4. Reuse, Reuse, Reuse

“One way I have discovered to keep items out of landfills and save a bunch of money in the process is FreeCycle – an online group where members post things they are looking for, and what they have to get rid of. I have received a dining room set (complete with six chairs, buffet, and hutch), bunk beds for my kids, a set of night stands, and a really good juicer for no cost. And I’ve used FreeCycle to give away all the clothes that my kids have outgrown.”

— Lea P-W., Painesville, OH 

5. Stop the Leaks

“I’m unplugging the toaster, lamps, cell phone chargers, laptops, and other electronic devices when I’m not using them. These things leak energy needlessly when they are plugged in all the time. It’s the quickest way to save energy and it saves me money on the electric bill too.”

6. Harness the Sun

“We installed solar panels on our townhome in March along with another family in our homeowners’ association. Several others had expressed interest before the economic meltdown and then backed off, but we hope that with our example others will see that in the long-run it’s a money-saver, and they will understand the benefit for both the planet and their bottom lines.”

— Ellen S., Boulder, CO

7. Waste Not, Want Not

“I compost. I keep my garbage creation to a minimum. I refuse packaging and bags whenever possible (bringing my own cloth bag). I explain to the checkout person why I am refusing the bag or giving back the packaging. Also, steel is 100-percent recyclable. The recycled steel isn’t downgraded or ‘downcycled.' I recycle every unusable nail, every screw, every wire, etc., at my local transfer station. Even my steel roof will be recycled when it is done being my roof.”

— Ruth O., White Salmon, WA 

8. Dispense With Disposables

“This may seem like a minor thing, but it really helps on my limited budget. I have ceased purchasing paper towels and instead use old rags for cleaning and wiping up spills. I wash the dirty rags and reuse them until they wear out. I didn’t realize how many paper towels I used to go through before I started this new system.”

— Sarah F., Tullahoma, TN 

9. Reallocate Your Resources

“Our path toward sustainability began when we realized the value of doing things for ourselves. I began by making our own laundry detergent. It is all-natural and costs less than a penny per ounce to make! We used the money we were saving to take bigger steps: buying our meat in bulk from local farmers who raise their animals on pasture and sustainably, and buying Energy-Star appliances for our house.”

— Carrie C., Salem, VA 

10. Examine Your Diet

“By becoming vegan I cut my carbon footprint to at least 60 percent and the amount of money that each meal costs me by an average of 78 percent. Beans and legumes are so inexpensive compared to meat! I cut costs even more by growing herbs and vegetables for myself, and I earn fruits by offering to do the picking for friends with fruit trees, in exchange for keeping the surplus. I preserve them in glass jars and make pickled fruits and vegetables to extend them even further .”

— Sarah F., Tullahoma, TN 

11. Green celebrations!

“On June 20, I am getting married green style. Oh, green wedding, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: 
1) Used wedding dress from eBay, $10!, 
2) Organic, Fair Trade apparel for the wedding party that they can use afterwards, 
3) Asking guests to carpool to save gas, money, and the environment, 
4) Sending plantable wedding invitations [That’s right, you bury the invitations and wildflowers spring forth, just like love blooms…], 
5) Using leftover supplies from my cousin’s wedding, 
6) Buying organic flowers from the farmer’s market … and more. 
My fiancé Mark and I will be celebrating our day free from wedding-induced debt and the weight of a heavy carbon footprint!”

12. Invest Wisely (and Needs vs. Wants)

“We’re always asking ourselves whether this next purchase is a ‘need’ or a ‘want.’ When we actually stop to think about it, there are precious few needs. People say things like ‘I need cable TV,’ but that’s probably not true. Calling such things ‘needs’ cheapens the meaning of the word. We’ve also begun investing some savings with a community bank. Interestingly, in our experience, the smaller community bank with the social mission has been reliably beating the pants off of the mega-banks in terms of rate of return. We know that we’re saving more by getting the higher rate of return, but we are also proud that our money is doing good in the community as well!”

— Steve O., Mamaroneck, NY 

13. What Really Matters?

“I’m trying to stay focused on people and relationships rather than stuff. This helps me consider who is affected by what I do buy and from whom I buy it. I save by buying only thrift store clothes, but splurge on Fair Trade chocolate. I support locally owned businesses. I volunteer my time. And with some of the money I save, I use it to support organizations that help people help themselves. I do without stuff; that isn’t what matters anyway!”

— Kelly G., Charlotte, NC 
 

BONUS #14: Get everyone you know involved in going green and saving green.

Send this list of ways to go green and save money to all your friends and family, or post it to your blog or Web site. Engage others to help them save green in these tough economic times, and get more involved in going green for the sake of their health, people, and the planet. Together we can shift our economy from greed to green.