By Laura Turner Seydel
Finally, after a long, cold winter, spring is finally here! As the warm weather ushers in we celebrate the rebirth of the flowers, plants and little critters in our backyard and now is the perfect time to give our own lives a fresh, new start, too. Surround yourself with eco-friendly products that positively impact your world and the world around you.
Green your garden: Add a Raised Bed Garden to your backyard and grow your own veggies. Atlanta’s Farmer D (www.farmerd.com) has raised bed kits to help reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides to grow healthier and more natural vegetables, herbs and flowers.
Recycle more: Add a first, second or even third recycling bin to your at home recycling station by calling the City of Atlanta at 404-330-6333. Become accustomed to separating waste from papers, plastics and metals and recycling them each week.
Clean green: When it comes time to spring clean, ensure you’re using eco-friendly products like Mrs. Meyers or Shaklee. Also, check out EcoSMART’s (www.ecosmart.com) new non-toxic pesticides – when ridding your home of ants, roaches and other pests, EcoSMART ensures that your kids and pets are 100 percent safe.
Green is the new black: Dress the part of the new, green you and buy yourself an eco-friendly outfit. Evolve Boutique (www.evolve-boutique.com) in the Emory Village has great sustainable pieces for any wardrobe, including unique, eco-friendly accessories. Also check out Toms shoes, which my daughter and I adore for their comfort, sustainability and their community involvement. For every pair purchased, Toms will donate a pair to a child in need. www.tomsshoes.com.
Toast to the new green you: Take advantage of Georgia’s many wineries (try Persimmon Creek, Chateau Elan or Monteluce) and buy local wine for your next dinner party. Not only will you be reducing fossil fuel emissions emitted from the shipping process, you’ll also be supporting our local economy.
For more about green living, visit www.lauraseydel.com.