Reusable Bags News

Cleaning Green Maids is a local, family owned maid service in Hinsdale, in the western suburbs of Chicago. We created Cleaning Green Maids due to our own dissatisfaction with other maid services and independent cleaning ladies, we employed in our own home. We were tired of maids who would clean around an object rather than moving it. Maids you had to remind every time to do simple things that should have been second nature to them. If something looked clean to them, they would just skip it altogether. We wanted to feel like our home was sparkling as well, if not better than we could do ourselves. We wanted to feel like we had gotten our monies worth, instead usually we just felt cheated. We tried calling other services but when we would ask about detailed or deep cleaning….they did not want the job. It was then that we realized what was desperately needed in this industry.

I learned to how to clean the “right” way from my Czech grandmother. Polish cleaning ladies are famous for their excellent work, but Czech cleaning ladies are Europe’s best kept secret. I personally think they are the best in the world. I train every maid we employ myself, in the Old World European way my grandmother taught me.

When our son was born in 2004, we naturally took a vested interest in making sure our home was as healthy as possible for him. We started learning about ‘green’ cleaning. We read everything we could about indoor pollution from toxic household chemicals. It was then we realized that we could take our service one step further and offer not only freedom from housework, but freedom from toxic poisons as well. Along with the gift of time, would be the gift of health. We knew that there were many families just like ours who wanted the best for their children too, as well as many people who just wanted to feel better themselves. A wonderful bonus was that the environment would be benefiting right along with it. Thus, Cleaning Green Maids was born. We hope you will allow our family to be of service to your family.

I’d like to welcome Dan from Green Earth Print and Design to our Eco Friendly Community.  Here is a very interesting message from their team, I love how they’ve incorporated the idea of collective consciousness with our individual efforts to go green.

We all play a part in the consciousness of the planet. Our individual thoughts, words and actions affect the “Collective Consciousness” of humanity. Our collective consciousness of consumption has brought us to a point in time where climate change and global warming have become  serious issues on the planet. Individually and collectively we can help minimize and eventually even reverse the effects of climate change.

We all need to “Bloom Where We’re Planted”, and for us at Green Earth, it’s in the industries of Graphic Design and Print. While the print industry may never be totally “GREEN”, there are major steps being taken to limit the carbon footprint left on the planet from this industry.  Among these improvements in the industry are soy based and vegetable based inks with very low VOC’s, 100% recycled papers and even tree-free papers. Read more about Green Printing

We see it as our responsibility to our local community and the planet to help educate our clients, to the best of our  knowledge on what’s available in terms of new, earth friendly technologies and resources in the Graphic Arts and Print Industries, as well as further educating ourselves in the process.

A Few of The Things We Do
Brochures, Letterheads, Envelopes, Business Cards, Corporate Collateral, Presentation Folders, Posters, Large Format, Carbonless, Postcards, Specialty Printing, Books, POP Displays, Prepress, Graphic Design, Bindery, Foil Stamping, Embossing, Die Cutting

It’s my pleasure to welcome Simon and the team from Green Woods Furniture to our Eco Friendly Community.  Take it away Green Woods:

Green Woods Furniture is a unique, Bristol based, independent retailer, supplying homes throughout the UK with a superb range of quality furniture, beds, organic mattresses and accessories. Using only materials from sustainable and reclaimed sources, all of our furniture and mattresses are handmade in the UK and include many exclusive pieces from specialist, low volume makers.  We only sell the finest, natural organic mattresses, all are handmade by Abaca in South Wales and all are certified by the Soil Association.

Showroom Finder makes it easy and fun to discover antique, consignment (fashion and furnishings), vintage and resale stores across the United State.

Unlike many websites that simply display a list of store names, phone numbers, and addresses, every store on Showroom Finder features a complete profile about what makes that store unique. In fact, most of our profiles are written in collaboration with the store owners themselves. Photos, store logos, and special announcements round out our store profiles, so you can get a taste of a store before visiting in person.

Unique to Showroom Finder are locally based showrooms featuring thousands of items for sales at our members’ stores, ready to take home. Instead of bidding for something you can’t see or touch, you can drive to one of our members’ stores and take it home the same day.

Showroom Finder is an industry leader. Since its founding in 2003, Showroom Finder has grown to become the leading online directory in the resale and consignment industry.

I’d like to welcome Kimberly Thomson and the team from The Ultimate Diet to our Eco Friendly Community.  If you don’t give a lot of thought to the food you’re feeding your pet, you may change your mind after seeing this video as seen on Pet Network TV’s, Pet Central, about the benefits of natural and organic raw pet food.  I’ll let Kimberly take it from here:

You and your pet are going to love our food. The Ultimate Diet is the most life-enhancing food available. It is also the best eaten. We developed these diets because most pet foods are of sub-standard ingredients, and are cooked at high temperatures—limiting or eliminating their nutritional benefits. We, instead, do it better. We’ve chosen ingredients of the highest nutritional value for a pet, and left them in their raw state to maximize their absorption. Why raw? Because our pets need live foods that truly nourish them. Only raw foods provide this. Cooking destroys nutrients—including enzymes, vitamins and minerals. We use only hormone and antibiotic-free meats, plus organic ingredients—which provide denser nutrient levels than factory farmed ingredients. Your pets will love our formulas, and you will see observable signs of their improved health within the first month of use. This is our dedication, and our promise. Sincerely,

Solarwyse Ltd. is a Canadian Company started in 2005, based in the colder climates of Northern Alberta. There was a distinct need to prove that alternative power solutions were not only viable in cooler climates, but also a more economical solution. The biggest argument that we hear against solar energy is that you have to give up so many modern conveniences.

Solarwyse has gained the experience on how to maintain a fully modern energy independent rural home, living totally off grid. Buying a solar power system from Solarwyse comes with more than just the components, we are here to supply the knowledge and education to assist you in selecting the right choices from appliance selection, to heating options. We firmly believe that an educated consumer is our most valuable asset.

What do you need to give up? Nothing but the monthly payment to your local utility company. Until your willing to spend less than $1000 a year for heat, water and electricity, then Solarwyse does not have a solution for you. If your interested give us a call, better yet ask for a tour of our off grid home, see for yourself firsthand.

Over the last few years there has been an increasing awareness of where our food comes from. There are now many more organic food suppliers and a lot of people buy food which is locally produced. If you are planning to maintain such a lifestyle whilst on holiday, Organic Places to Stay offers you all the information you need. The website is a directory of places around the world which offer produce which is certified according to local organic food standards. Most of the listed holiday locations are small and family run businesses which care about farming in tune with nature and biodiversity. The money spent in these places will stay in the local communities. Around two thirds of the places listed offer meals, usually breakfast, but lunches and evening meals are often available as well. Many of these places have their own small restaurant, a few of which are certified organic, and others may have a certified organic kitchen garden, orchard or vineyard. Meals are prepared using local organic produce whenever possible. On average this will be at least 50% organic, but many of the places offer a much higher percentage, up to 100% organic. Quite a few of them grow their own produce, some use wild or natural foods, and most will aim to use fresh local produce rather than imported food. The rest of the places are self-catering on organic farms or smallholdings. At these places you will find information about the availability of organic food - for example whether you can buy the farm’s own organic produce, have an organic vegetable box delivered, or find organic produce in the local area. Fresh produce, local specialities, slow food, home baking, homemade products such as jam, juice, ice cream, yogurt, cheese, pasta, pasta sauce, olive oil, wine - you will find all of these and more. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/

I’d like to welcome Mark Wallace and the team at nosymbolrequired.co.uk.  nosymbolrequired describes itself as the organic clothing company for wakeboarders, skateboarders, surfers and snowboarders.  This is a great site to find an affordable and comfortable shirt with an original design, quote, saying or even just a picture, drawing or sketch of something funny and often very clever.  If you’re looking to stock up on cool organic t-shirts and clothing for the upcoming spring and summer seasons, look no further than nosymbolrequired.

I am excited to welcome Dr Barbara Olioso and Forest Secrets Skin Care to our Eco Friendly Community.  Dr Olioso is the founder of Forest Secrets Skincare, a professional chemist, and she has worked only with natural and organic cosmetics since 1999.

Dr Olioso recently wrote an article about natural and organic skin care, and what you really need to know before you buy.  Forest Secrets Skin Care also has a great blog about green skin care news and eco friendly people and organizations that is worth checking out, Click here

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I’d like to welcome Eric and the team from Eco Friendly Tourist.  ecofriendlytourist.com describes itself as ‘the user friendly guide to green holidays’ and provides details of green vacations in the UK – where to go, how to get there and things to do while you’re away. Set up in 2006 its content is based on journalistic research. It doesn’t nag and or preach: the aim is inspire visitors to the site and help them plan and enjoy guilt free vacations.

The website features an independent guide to eco-friendly places to stay in the UK, featuring hotels, hostels, guest houses, self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation – plus some other unusual places – throughout the country and across all price ranges.

Each comprehensive listing is divided into two parts with details of its eco-friendly credentials plus a descriptive overview of what the place is really like. It is easy to use and every listing is no more than two clicks away from the Home page.

The guide also includes a guide to hotel chains and what they are doing to go green, a camping and caravanning guide, and the lowdown on eco friendly short breaks in the UK, from cheap short breaks to luxury short breaks, romantic breaks to family breaks, activity breaks to spa breaks, outdoor breaks to heritage breaks. There is information about public transport across the UK, by road, sea and rail, but not by air.

The site is packed with jargon free information about green holidays: how to choose  where to stay, carbon offsetting, the pitfalls of “greenwashing”, and more. Plus there’s a 10 step guide on how to be an eco friendly tourist. The Travel Essentials section has information and links to help you plan a stress-free holiday - passports and visas, safety, travel insurance, travel money and holiday weather.

For further information visit www.ecofriendlytourist.com or contact webmaster@ecofriendlytourist.com