In the crooning voices of the Beach Boys: Let’s go surfing now, everybody’s learning how. It’s summer and the world beckons, from surfing to gardening and campfires to fitness. Whatever your favorite sunny day pastimes, though, it’s important to apply your green living experience and consider things like waste, carbon footprint, toxic chemicals, and more. Fortunately, Green Business Network…

Think of your town and the places you like to shop. Did you think of any small, local businesses? Owned and run by our neighbors, friends, and family, small businesses help color our lives and neighborhood. Unfortunately, one-fifth of all US small businesses close within a year due to a lack of funds and support. Obstacles are more ubiquitous for diverse-owned businesses, including BIPOC-owned,…

Legislators across the United States have introduced a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills this year. From proposed laws censoring inclusive curriculums in schools to healthcare barriers, LGBTQ rights are facing an onslaught of attacks on their legitimacy. Less than halfway through the years, more than half the states have introduced at least one bill (but often more) seeking to ostracize and…

Do you want the tea? Organic tea, that is! Then it’s time to take a trip to Arkansas and visit The Green Corner Store’s Tea Bar—or you can visit their website, of course.  Treated like a sustainable crop, organic tea is made without chemicals like herbicides or chemical fertilizer and grown with regenerative practices like crop rotation.  Loose leaf, matcha, oolong, iced—tea has…

Instead of passing the buck on to the rest of us and our most vulnerable citizens, big insurance companies must use their leverage and clout to push the energy transition to a more sustainable future. Cathy Cowan Becker, Guest columnist This column was originally published by the Des Moines Register on May 23, 2024. As the planet warms, the insurance industry finds…

Across the United States, the wealth gap is seen and felt in various areas, from wages to investment funds, and all aspects of owning and improving property. BIPOC and low-income Americans struggle in specific ways because of the wealth gap, including a lack of equity, savings, and access to clean environments. Clean Energy Credit Union (CECU) {GBN} is seeking to change that with the Clean…

A new national survey by Pew Research Center reveals Americans trust small businesses more than any other institution.  Of the 5,000 adults surveyed, 86% said small businesses have a positive “effect on the way things are going in this country,” compared to the 12% who said they have a negative effect.  Pew asked the survey participants about several institutions in the country,…

This is a guest blog from Green Business Network member Longwave Financial. Tax season is often a time of year that can bring complexity and stress to even the most spirted and seasoned entrepreneurs. Yet, amid the pressure and seemingly endless paperwork, there’s an opportunity to turn challenges into strategic advantages, especially for those committed to sustainability. There are specific…

Women’s business acumen is nothing new—evidence shows women as early as the times of Mesopotamia, Ancient Greece, and Sparta involved in trading, owning property, and running shops. Currently in the United States, women entrepreneurship is on the rise, but women business owners still make up less than half of all business owners, and the disparities increase for Black, Indigenous and women of…

This is a guest blog from Green Business Network member Longwave Financial. Love is in the air, and while hearts flutter, finances can often be a cause of stress and concern for couples in all stages of life. As Valentine’s Day approaches, I can share a personal reflection on the intersection of love, money, and values. Recently engaged myself, my partner Taylor and I have embarked on an…