Thanksgiving Prep Week: Buy Local Organic Free-Range Turkey

Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks and this year us Greenista Girls are thankful for year-round local food. Whether you grow your own produce or support your local farmers’ market, nothing beats fresh, organic grub. Prepare this year’s meal with local, organic sides and a scrumptious local, organic turkey. Organic, free-range turkeys are healthier, taste better, don’t contain hormones and/or antibiotics, and have a less adverse impact on the environment because they aren’t raised in cramped cages or injected with breast plumping hormones. Plus, buy shopping locally you’re cutting back on the average 1,500-miles it takes your food to travel from farm to plate, supporting local farmers, and cutting back on shipping CO2 and packaging. That’s something to me thankful for. Enjoy!

Written by Greenista Girl Brianne

Photos by Free-Extras

Can It: National America Recycles Day

Hey America, are you doing your green civic duty? Don’t worry if you haven’t started recycling yet, November 15 is the perfect day to start … it’s National America Recycles Day. Check out the dos and don’ts and how recycling actually works.

• Every community has different rules about what you can and can’t recycle. Check out your local government’s website or call for a list of the rules.
• Make sure your items are clean. We know it’s a pain but rinsing items first or ripping off soiled parts makes the recycling process easier. For example: a cereal box is great for recycling but a greasy pizza box isn’t.
• Separate your items in to paper and plastic. It’s also important to remove any parts of an item that can’t be recycled. For example, milk jugs can be recycled but some caps can’t.
• Read the bins. Most times they are labeled with what you can toss in.
• Good bets for recycling include steel cans, aluminum cans, newspapers, magazines, plastic beverage bottles, milk jugs, glass bottles and jars, cereal boxes, other clean and dry cardboard boxes.
• Bad bets for recycling include plastic grocery bags, styrofoam, food-soiled paper, and wax paper.
See how recycling actually works!

Written by Greenista Girl Brianne
Photo by Google Images

Man Made: National Men Make Dinner Day

Ladies, are you tired of cooking dinner every night? We hear ya! Luckily it’s National Men Make Dinner Day! We can hear the cheers all across America. Ask your hubby, best friend, pops, grandpa, or any man in your life to help whip up a special something. In fact, we’ll even help out by handing them a fail-proof recipe. Get him to whip up this yummy pesto lasagna recipe … all he has to do is put it together and pop it in the oven.

Pesto Lasagna

• 8 ounces organic whole wheat lasagna noodles

• 15 ounces organic part-skim ricotta
• 1/3 cup chopped organic basil
• 1/4 cup toasted organic pine nuts
• 1/3 cup packaged organic pesto
• 4 ounces shredded organic part-skim mozzarella

1.     Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Cook the noodles according to the package directions.  Set aside.

2.     Combine the ricotta, basil, and pine nuts in a small bowl. Set aside.

3.     Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray. Spread 1/3 of the pesto into the bottom of the pan.

4.     Cover with half the noodles. Spread half the herb/ricotta mixture over the noodles.

5.     Repeat with another 1/3 of the pesto, the remaining noodles, the remaining herb/ricotta mixture, then cover the whole thing with the pesto.

6.     Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top.

7.     Bake for 30-45 minutes or until heated through and bubbling.

Written by Greenista Girl Brianne

Photos by SassyHongKong

Halloween Week: Top 5 Eco Way to Dispose of Your Carved Pumpkins

After Halloween is over and your carved pumpkin is looking all sad and shriveled, don’t kick it to the curb to be sent to the landfill. Check out these top 5 eco ways to dispose of your carved pumpkins.

Compost It: Cut the pumpkin into small chunks to help decomposition. The worms will do the rest of the work by breaking it down.

Bury It: If you don’t have a compost bin, try burying it in your garden. Just make sure it’s deep enough so squirrels and bunnies can’t dig it up. You might even have a pumpkin or two sprouting next fall.

Feed the Animals: Crack the pumpkin open and toss it into the woods. Deer, rabbits, and mice will nibble on this seasonal fave until it’s gone.

Make a Face Mask: Scoop out the insides, mash it with a little honey, soy milk, and brown sugar. Apply to your skin and wash off 10 minutes later.

Make a Bird Feeder: How cute is that idea? Follow these step-by-step instructions for a DIY bird feeder from your old pumpkin. We love it!

Written by Greenista Girl Brianne

Photos by Sakurako

Top 6 Green Celeb Babies

Living a sustainable life doesn’t just start with us, it starts with our little green offspring, too. Here a 6 celeb babies who are crawling along sustainable living path … with help from mama, of course.

1.      Julia Roberts and Son Henry Daniel Moder

The actress is not only feeding her family all organic good, but she’s also growing it.

2.     Jessica Alba and Daughter Honor Marie Warren

Prior to baby Honor’s birth, Jessica dropped big bucks on the ultimate green nursery with designer Kari Whitman.

3.     Nicole Kidman and Sunday Rose Urban

Nicole Kidman ditched the crazed Hollywood life for a more peaceful one on a Nashville farm where she grows her own fruits and veggies.

4.     Halle Berry and Daughter Nahla Ariela Aubry

Halle Berry spent $60,000 putting together the ultimate environmentally sound nursery. Plus, Halle’s a big fan of organic disposable diapers.

5.     Kelly Ruherford and Son Hermes Gustaf Daniel

Gossip Girl star Kelly Rutherford tries to go toxic-free when cleaning her eco-friendly abode with her little man.

6.     Soleil Moon Frye and Daughter Jagger Joseph Blue Goldberg

Former star of Punky Brewster is co-owner of L.A.’s hip eco-friendly baby store, The Little Seed meaning Jagger Joseph Blue has been equipped with the best eco-duds since day one.

Written by Greenista Girl Brianne

Photos by The Little Seed