One of my goals with the Conscientious Christmas Challenge is to buy gifts from independently-owned businesses in Connecticut. In order to do this, I needed to do some research and actually find small businesses. I found Like a Fresh New Penny, which sells handmade, all-natural laundry supplies, via Ann Nyberg, and I’m giving away a starter kit to one lucky reader!
Rebecca Pickering, a Connecticut native living in Newington, started making her own laundry detergent for a few reasons: her husband has sensitive skin, she wanted an eco-friendly detergent, and she is trying to live more frugally. Her detergent {“laundry soap”} only contains three ingredients: washing soda, borax {a naturally-occurring mineral}, and ivory soap {99% pure with no dyes or chemicals}. Rebecca sometimes gets her soap from Connecticut soapmakers. The laundry soap contains no harsh chemicals, so it’s perfect for babies or people with skin allergies. You only need about a tablespoon for each load, half for high-efficiency machines, and each bag comes with a scoop so you know just how much to use.
Rebecca’s felted dryer balls were born out of her frustration with dryer sheets. “I would find dryer sheets all over the house, which drove me nuts,” says Rebecca. “So, I thought, there has to be a better way to do this.” The dryer balls are made entirely from felted wool and they last for a very, very long time. “I know people that have used the same dryer balls for years,” Rebecca said. “Initially, they’re more expensive than dryer sheets, but because they last so long, they’re less expensive in the long-term.” You pop 2-4 dryer balls in for small loads, and 5-7 for large loads. They work by separating the clothes, which allows them to dry faster, resulting in less time needed in the dryer. Oh, and the noise of the balls bouncing around in the machine is normal! Rebecca’s dryer balls are unscented, but you can add a few drops of essential oils onto them to fragrance your dryer loads.
So what’s in the starter kit and how do you win it? I’m giving away Like a Fresh New Penny’s Holiday All-Natural Starter Kit, which contains a 10 oz bag of laundry soap {good for 30 loads in a regular machine, 50 for high-efficiency machines} with a scoop and 3 felted dryer balls, all nestled in a sweet holiday candy cane basket and wrapped in a Christmas tree print bag. This is a great gift for anyone because everyone washes their clothes {hopefully}! Keep it for yourself, give it to a friend who has sensitive skin or a new baby, or bring it to a holiday party grab bag, which is what I’ll be doing! Here’s how to enter: 1) “Like” Like a Fresh New Penny on Facebook, 2) “Like” Poor & Pretty on Facebook, and 3) Leave a comment on this post by the end of Sunday, December 11th. Winner will be chosen and announced on Monday, December 12th. Good luck!
In this economy, it’s tough to be moral and broke. I want to support small businesses and independent artists, and buy Organic and Fair Trade, but very often it’s less costly and time consuming to shop at a big chain store or dollar stores and buy store-brand goods. The problem is that many big companies {like Wal-Mart and Family Dollar, for example} are known to exploit their workers in order to keep the big bucks in shareholder’s pockets. So, while you’re getting a great deal, the workers are not, and neither is our country.
So, what to do? My friend Ben {who you may remember from Michigan} has the answer. Ben just started an as-yet-nameless but very smart blog, and is challenging his readers, friends, and family to a Conscientious Christmas Challenge {or Winter Solstice or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, etc.}. Says Ben:
…We could spend {our holiday dollars} buying plastic trees at Wal-Mart and ordering CD’s and books off Amazon, but these are corporations that have no interest in creating jobs, and no responsibilities to their communities. There is no denying that what is better for your local community’s economy is better for you.
This year, I am challenging myself to do all of my holiday shopping, decorate my house, wrap all of my friends and family’s gifts and simply celebrate this holiday as ethically as possible.
By purchasing something from an independent bookstore or record shop rather than ordering off Amazon, you arechoosing to keep that money circulating in your city. By purchasing a live tree or a fresh cut tree from a local farmer’s market (Hint: If you purchase the tree, chances are they’ll plant a new one. Simple supply and demand!) rather than purchasing a plastic non-biodegrading one from Wal-Mart… you are not only helping your local economy but helping the environment. These are just a couple of examples!
So how can you participate in the Conscientious Christmas Challenge? Join the event on Facebook. If you don’t have a Facebook account, or if you’d prefer not to join on Facebook, you can still take part. Here are the rules {well, more like guidelines}:
1. Support local businesses first. There are alternatives to nearly anything that you could purchase from a Target, Wal-Mart, or other larger business.
2. Support independent businesses and entrepreneurs first. This goes along with the first rule. If you go to websites like etsy.com or do a bit of searching, you can find tons of businesses starting up in your area that need support! If you can’t find options that are local, you can foster creative thinking, a more diverse economy, and know exactly where your money is going.
3. Know what businesses stand for. When it isn’t probable for you to shop local or independent, know what it is that you’re supporting with your money. Target is known for supporting anti-gay politicians, Wal-Mart treats its employees atrociously, etc. Sometimes it’s hard to really decide what business decisions trump others. Take American Apparel for example: While their CEO is clearly a bad egg, the company uses all-American labor, and all-American products. So do you support the company or not? You have to make that decision in consideration of your own priorities.
4. Cook ethically. Head to the local farmer’s market, check out a co-operative and shop free range, organic and GMO free. Choose the ethical option when cooking your holiday meals. Avoid GMO food {especially Monsanto} and whenever possible, purchase organic food! It’s significantly healthier for you.
5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Challenge yourself not to buy any new wrapping paper. Instead, wrap your gifts in newspaper like my family does, or hit up thrift stores and antique stores in search for unique ways to wrap up your gifts. Not only will you be reusing, thrift stores and antique stores sell what is given to them, therefore purchasing wrapping paper or other materials won’t affect the supply and demand of the product. The less paper/plastic bought new, the less paper/plastic produced the next year, and the less paper/plastic that ends up in landfills.
6. Get creative! While writing someone a short story or creating a song for them may sound a bit sappy to some, you can always get more creative with gift giving. Visiting your parents in a far-off state? Put together a local product basket, filled with foods and products created in your area. Looking to be less material? Donate to a cause near and dear to their hearts.
7. Do what you can. Honestly, celebrating the holidays in this way won’t always be the most affordable option. If you can only afford to use recycled wrapping paper, that’s fine. If you truly have to buy something from a megastore for your relative or friend, buy it. Just do the best that you can to participate the way you can. If this was an easy thing to do, it wouldn’t be a challenge!
8. Last but not least: No snobbery! Shopping local, organic, etc. has started to get a bad reputation. When you tell people about the challenge or people ask how you’re doing on your Christmas Challenge don’t act holier-than-thou. Be positive, excited, and inspiring. The more who participate {at any level}, the better!
Ben & I love to hug and shop locally.
So, join Ben & I! There are a number of ways you can get involved in passing along the challenge to others. Link people to these rules and the other blog posts related to the challenge to get people thinking about what they can do. Join the Facebook event here, and invite all of your friends and family! For my part, I’ll be posting non-stop until the holidays are over with concrete ways to apply these rules to your {and my} holiday shopping, including links to independent shops/artists, CT indie events/fairs {like the Brazen Betties Indie Craft Fair this Friday}, and even gift & wrapping ideas.
I’m looking forward to shopping indie for the holidays with you!
xoxo,
Sami
Yesterday was a beautiful, sun-filled and eventful day. Stan and I woke up early, ate a delicious breakfast of bacon, eggs, and whole wheat toast, and headed to New Britain for the Urban Oaks Green Faire, sponsored by Urban Oaks Organic Farm. I’ve gotta say, I’m really proud of my hometown for getting behind the sustainability movement. Stan and I talked extensively with a representative from CL&P about green energy and sustainability, and I was surprised to find out how many cool local “green” businesses there are in the area. Here are a few highlights:
According to their website, Chet’s Italian Ice has been around since 2007, and it’s a damn shame I didn’t know about them earlier! That being said, I’m very glad I found them today. I tried a scoop of Strawberry Patch and a scoop of Lemon & Rosemary {hidden under the Strawberry Patch} — SO delicious! They currently do not have a store front, but they do participate in farmers markets, street fairs, and offer catering for private events and weddings.
I chatted with Rose Valle, owner of Bayberry Meadow Herbs, based in East Windsor. Rose makes natural herbal soaps, solid lotions, salves, herbal blends, and sells teas and healing salts from around the world. I’m hoping to take a soapmaking class taught by her later this summer. Check out her Facebook page for upcoming events, and she also has an Etsy shop.
You’ve heard of cupcake trucks and food on wheels, but how about a pizza fire truck? Verona on Wheels is a wood-fired, brick oven, pizzeria on wheels {fire truck wheels!}. Verona on Wheels is typically stationed in Southington, but also does catering and special events. Stan and I enjoyed a {large} slice of buffalo chicken, and would have gone back for more had we thought to bring more cash! You can also check out owner Sal Ajro’s non-mobile Verona Pizzeria in Marion for the same, super-yummy thin-crusted wood-fired pizza.
Stan got his nerd on talking to one of the Engineering students from New Britain High School {my alma mater} about their solar powered backwards trike. He also took a spin on the two person, four-wheeled, human-energy-powered bike {quike?}, also from NBHS.
All in all, it was a good day. There was no Rapture, and I may have even gotten a little tan! :)
Here are a few upcoming fair(e)s you should definitely attend in the next two weekends:
Brazen Betties 2nd Birthday Street Fair:Brazen Betties is celebrating its second year in business by hosting a street fair in Torrington on Saturday, May 21st from 4-8pm. Owner Julia Sloan will have tons of fun stuff going on, including a fashion show, live music, a hula-hoop contest, and even zombies! Check out the 20+ vendors, and make sure you pick up some of my soaps while you’re down there — I may even be there to hand them to you! <3 More info on the Facebook event.
Robin Hood Springtime Festival {Renaissance Faire} — I love Renaissance Faires! My mom used to take us to the New York one every fall, and the last three years Stan and I have gone to the Connecticut Ren Faire in Hebron, usually around October/November. This year, we’re excited to go to the Robin Hood Springtime Festival for the first time! If you’ve never been to a Renaissance Faire, you are totally missing out. They have guards that ticket you for frolicking, delicious turkey legs, singing wenches, jousting, interestingly-clad cast members, sword-fighting classes, maypole dancing, fantasy and period costumes for sale, and so much more! {Can you tell how excited I am?}
The faire is only running for two more weekends though, so put on your best wench dress or wizard cloak and get to Guilford! <3 Click here for the Facebook event.
Urban Oaks Green Faire: Lots of faires going on in CT this month! Although there probably won’t be green dragons at this one, there will be plenty of other “green,” because this faire is all about sustainability. Before you head to Torrington, stop by my hometown of New Britain between 10am-4pm for food, eco-conscious products and services, a drumming circle, and tips on how to “think globally by acting locally.” Sponsored by Urban Oaks Organic Farm. Confirm your attendance on Facebook.
I saw a deer today while I was making dinner and I did this thing when I get really excited where I squeak and ball up my fists and wave them around. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get that on camera, but I did get the deer!
I apologize for the screen-ness, but it was so close I didn’t want to scare it away! Oh, and no, your speakers aren’t broken… there just isn’t any sound : ) Happy Earth Day, everyone, and remember to be kind to nature today and every day <3.
