Happy Earth Day!

this year to celebrate the twenty days of MSP, our friends from Southern Ontario Urban Permaculture  [and our store] hooked us up with some great gifts to give away to three random participants in spring 2014's My Sustainability Plan Challenge. MSP pledge forms were printed [on reused paper] and put in the lounge at work for our fellow associates to fill out over the past couple weeks. this Earth Day, three lucky people will be selected from the 'MSP ballot box' and they will get to pick a prize!

we chose items to share that promote healthy living, saving money and sustainable practices. also, a book has been selected from the S.O.U.P. library to be gifted to a special friend who has taken an interest in growing fresh produce for her and her family. what an exciting month!


Brita Water Filter Bottle

this item was an obvious choice for an Earth Day gift. the bottle itself retails for $9.97 [comes with one filter] and $7.97 for two extra filters. the filter needs to be changed roughly every two months, so for under $18 dollars we can drink fresh filtered water from any tap for up to six months! this saves the production and disposal of hundreds of water bottles, and saves us money! not to mention the cost and emissions of cleaning, bottling and transporting that bottled water to the stores, and then to our houses. and once this reusable bottle reaches the end of it's life, it too can be recycled.


Cool Gear Expandable Salad Kit

this 'cool' item retails for around $10 and is a great way to encourage healthy lunch choices over fast food or packaged items. it's a bento-style collapsible salad box that keeps your lettuce crisp and fresh in the bottom, and your veggies and dressing chills in the top. there's even a little leak-proof squirt container for your dressing! the center tray is filled with a non-toxic gel that can be chilled in the freezer to keep your salad cool and crisp for up to 4 hours. thanks to it's collapsible format, it can be stored without taking up very much space, and carrying the empty container home after work doesn't seem like such a 'burden'. plus in the summer months you can show off your home-grown veggies in your cool reusable container!


Tim Hortons Stainless Steel Thermal Tumbler

coffee is a big deal in this city, especially the Canadian classic... Timmies! which unfortunately makes this brand's paper cup a popular sight in street litter and trash cans. the good news is, products such as this stainless steel tumbler are gaining popularity. every year, billions of paper disposable cups are produced and used for coffee alone. this entire process could be avoided if the majority of coffee drinkers would bring along their trusty travel mugs to be refilled. this product values at around $18 and can save someone who purchases two coffees five days a week from using up to 480 disposable cups a year. even better, if you brew your coffee at home, bring it to work in a thermos and use a reusable mug, you could also save up to $800 a year! that's right! wow... what an easy way to save money and live a more sustainable lifestyle.

stay tuned for more great ways to green up! Happy Earth Day!