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Friday, June 7, 2013

Make it Last: Clean (and Green) Your Clothing

Let’s have a quick refresher on the environmental impacts of clothing production. One t-shirt requires the use of 700 gallons of water, 1/3 pound of pesticides and 14 pounds of CO­­2, while a pair of jeans will go through an estimated 919 gallons of water in its lifetime.

Replacing your worn-out t-shirts and jeans with new ones impacts the environment, and as you surely know, it hurts your wallet, too. We’re not advising you to stop buying new clothes altogether and try to make your old ones last forever, but if you can get a few extra months out of your clothing, you’ll save money and reduce burdens on the environment.

This post will take a look at some simple strategies for lengthening the life of your garments and outline responsible methods for disposal once your clothing’s time has finally come.



Line Dry

If you run your dryer for five hours per week, it’s costing you about $130 in annual electricity costs. Not only that, but drying garments in the dryer weakens the clothing’s fiber much more quickly than line drying would, especially for cotton items. High-temperature drying can lead to cracks in cotton which reduce fabric strength, drastically shortening the life of a cotton t-shirt or similar item. Avoid this by line-drying instead — it’ll save your clothes and a little bit of money.

Wash Less

Before you dismiss this idea because it seems unsanitary, listen to what Levi-Strauss has to say: “The less you wash your jeans, the better they become.”

Levi’s says that putting jeans in the washer can “tense” up the fabric and make the jeans shorter, altering the fit and feel. Instead of machine washing, Levi’s suggests spot-cleaning jeans and only using the washing machine every few months, and only using cold water when doing so. This will also work to reduce energy costs and reduce CO2 emissions, as heating water for washing is a carbon-intensive process.

Use a Front-Loading Washer

Front-loading washing machines are gentler on clothing than traditional top-loading ones, and they’re more energy efficient, too. They use a third less water, energy and detergent than standard machines, and they don’t contain an agitator, the part in the middle of a top-loading washer that churns the clothes and water together. Agitators cause wear and tear on clothes, so investing in a front-loading washer will lengthen the life of your clothing.

Following these tips will give your clothing a longer lifespan, but let’s face it, that t-shirt you’ve had for 10 years isn’t going to be wearable forever. When there’s nothing more you can do to extend a garment’s life, dispose of it in a responsible way by placing it in a USAgain drop box. We take clothes regardless of condition, with lower-quality items being recycled into new, useful products like insulation for vehicles and wiping rags.

We’d love to know your tips for extending the life of clothing — share ‘em if you’ve got ‘em.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics







This Vitamin C Active Moisture Serum ($68) uses a potent mix of antioxidants to naturally brighten and replenish skin for a more radiant, even-toned complexion. An ultra-concentrated combination of vitamins A, C, D, & E and antioxidants from organic green tea oil and super critical sea buckthorn oil help protect against free radicals that can cause photo damage and skin discoloration. Rich in the rare fatty acid Omega 7 and Omega 3, 6, 9 fatty acids, this serum helps to restore moisture levels and helps to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.



A powerful blend of vitamins A, D & E and active antioxidants, this luxurious, intensely hydrating Vitamin E Active Moisture Eye Balm ($48) melts into skin to restore radiance to the delicate eye area. Organic fennel, a natural anti-inflammatory, helps to reduce puffiness. Pomegranate, eyebright and ginseng naturally lift and plump while providing continuous hydration throughout the day.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Betty Goes Vegan

Betty Goes Vegan: 500 Classic Recipes for the Modern Family is a comprehensive guide to creating delicious meals for today's vegan family. This must-have cookbook features recipes inspired by The Betty Crocker Cookbook, as well as hundreds of original, never-before-seen recipes sure to please even meat-eaters. It also offers insight into why Betty Crocker has been an icon in American cooking for so long-- and why she still represents a certain style of the modern super-woman nearly 100 years after we first met her. With new classics for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, including omelets, stews, casseroles, and brownies, Betty Goes Vegan is the essential handbook every vegan family needs.



"Betty Goes Vegan is the most exciting culinary innovation since the original Betty Crocker Cookbook. This book is a masterpiece and a must-have for every kitchen." - Rory Freedman, New York Times bestselling author of Skinny Bitch

"This is a phenomenal no-nonsense book filled with comfort foods made vegan. The Shannons have outdone themselves with their creative versions of American classics. I only wish this book was around when I started cooking vegan." - Roberto Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Vegan Cooking for Carnivores

"Betty Goes Vegan is a celebration of nostalgic comfort food deliciously transformed into fun and fabulous vegan fare. Destined to be a classic, this groundbreaking cookbook will delight and inspire vegans and omnivores alike." - Robin Robertson, bestselling author of Quick-Fix Vegan, 1,000 Vegan Recipes, and Vegan Planet

"Funny, insightful and full of kick-ass vegan recipes. This is the ultimate cookbook! The kind of book you will pass down to your vegan children's vegan children. A joy from start to finish." - Sarah Kramer, author of How It All Vegan!