Some believe if you can’t do a thing 100 percent, it’s not worth doing at all. That certainly doesn’t apply to greening your gift giving. No matter what you celebrate or when, there are many small things that you can do to have a positive impact.Small steps start the shift. Momentum builds and confidence grows. Before  long, you’ll have formed new routines and shopping habits that will serve as the foundation for building a sustainable lifestyle.Here are a few ideas to get you started: Replace one physical gift with an experiential gift. Forgo the clothes, the video games and gadgets and give…

When I think about being green, eco-friendly or earth-minded, I don’t just think about being kind to the environment. Sure, I think about conservation, preservation, and about embracing a lifestyle that embodies sustainable living; but I also think about simple things individuals can do to make the world a better place.  It is in that spirit that I offer these eight great green ways to express thankfulness as we head into Thanksgiving week:  Go all natural with your hostess gifts and decorative accentsGourds, pinecones, pine needles and colorful leaves, intentionally arranged can make festive…

It starts in late August. That’s when I usually spot the first few dry, brown leaves cascading to the ground. They are an early cue of the changes afoot that eventually will cause some birds to depart for warmer climates, insects and animals to seek shelter for hibernation, and many trees to shed their leaves.  Within weeks, vibrant fall colors begin to flare. Pumpkins are prominently displayed, perfectly potted mums adorn doorsteps, apple picking becomes the weekend activity of choice, and fall festivals get underway. Locals and tourists flock to the woods on foot, on bikes, and in vehicles …

It’s not too early to start planning for Halloween. If you’ve been in any retail outlet over the past few weeks, you've seen that Halloween costumes, decorations and treats abound.  If you want to have a green Halloween (and I hope you do!), you’ll want to use the next few weeks to plan ahead. Last fall I wrote about ways to green your Halloween. This year’s column offers a few new ideas and recommendations along with some of the old tried and true. TreatsOver the years, we have given candy, popcorn, pretzels, playing cards, and have offered a mix of more healthful choices along with, or …

During the school year, I had a standing date with a friend who I met 10 years ago at a new mom’s group at Alexandria Hospital. I had just had my first child and was in full-scale panic mode, fearful that every decision I made would scar my weeks-old baby. A recently broken-in, clear-headed new mom friend with a daughter less than a year older than my newborn, swooped in and whisked me and child off to the new mom’s group where I gained a little perspective.  As the newbie moms circled the room sharing our fears and concerns (some rational, some not), I was embarrrasingly surprised to find …

Not all nature enthusiasts are technology averse. In fact, many, like me, are using technology to enhance their connection with nature and live greener lives. Mobile devices have made it easier than ever to get the information we need when we need it to make greener choices on the go. Check out the following list of some of my favorite (mostly free) green apps:  The Dirty Dozen  From the Environmental Working Group, this app is your go-to-guide when shopping for produce. Buying organic can mean a big hit to the wallet. But even experts agree that eating non-organic fruits and vegetables is …

This week, as we prepare to head north for our annual trek to Massachusetts, I have been awash in planning, coordinating, and mapping -- none of which has felt simple. But, I have invested the time and energy up front knowing that doing so will make the prospect of a simpler vacation more plausible. Our annual summer vacation has it roots in my quest for simplicity. For years, we used to make the trek up to visit my family during the fall and winter, alternating between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. After having our travel impeded and plans shifted due to weather events one too …

For the last couple of months Green and Simple has been all about the Green. The Simple has been more elusive. As the early spring beckoned, I felt compelled to be out in the thick of it. We hiked trails we hadn’t hiked in years and breezed down bike paths we had never ridden with the kids. We even added new plants to the front flower bed, into which we’ve put very little effort over the past decade. So it’s the outdoors I have been drawn to write about lately. As with writing, the time spent outdoors steeped in nature has helped keep me sane during this less than simple spring. Just as we …

Did you know that pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food that we eat? Or that pollinators help to grow approximately 1,000 plants that are used for food, beverages, fibers, spices, and medicines around the world?  Or that some plants and animals have interdependent relationships where a single pollinator species depends on a single type of plant food and vice versa? Neither can survive without the other.  These are just a few of the fascinating facts about pollinators shared by the Pollinator Partnership, a non-profit organization dedicated to the health, …

When I first heard about the concept of establishing a backyard wildlife habitat, I thought, “Yeah, right. Nice for the folks who live down the George Washington Parkway and in neighborhoods like Beverly Hills where trees and woodlands are an integral part of the landscape, but not for those of us living in Old Town.” Sure, there are pockets of wildlife-friendly terrain in Old Town, but I certainly did not think I could support wildlife in my own backyard. We barely even have a backyard! But, the more I learned about the effort and the resources available to help everyday families like ours …

June is a great month to head outdoors. Here is a guide to great green events happening this month.   June is Great Outdoors MonthCelebrate the occasion by taking advantage of all that our great city and nearby areas have to offer. From bike trails to farmers markets to parks and playgrounds, there are plenty of options from which to choose. Try the Old Town Farmers Market in Market Square on Saturday mornings. National Trails DayJune 2According to the American Hiking Society, America has more than 200,000 miles of trails connecting you to the great outdoors. Celebrate the day by hiking a new…

Last week the youngest in our clan graduated from preschool, and I find myself feeling conflicted about the transition ahead. Our son has been at this school for his entire preschool life and has been pretty content for the majority of it. There were the early days, when he was still quite clingy -- I would feel the torturous tug during drop-off, his screams echoing through the classroom as I headed for the door. Overtime, this was balanced and eventually replaced with his resistance to leaving school at pick-up time. He has come to enjoy his independent life and the rich relationships he has…

Although it is not yet officially summer, it would be hard to convince most plants, animals and people that it is not, except for the kids who are still in school.   I saw my first firefly last night, ripe strawberries in a school garden today, and then there are warmer-than-usual temperatures. Regardless of how you feel about it, we are bound to see more summer-like days in the coming weeks, even before the summer solstice on June 20, which happens to be the last day of school for most Alexandria City Public School students. So, as you head out to the garden, coast along the bike trail, bask…

Last fall, I completed training to become a master naturalist through the Arlington Regional Master Naturalist program. Throughout the course we studied trees, native and invasive plants and animals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and so much more. Every week our studies included a lecture followed by field work where we would visit various parks, nature centers, streams and relevant locations to experience first-hand the topic of the week. Throughout the fall and winter, I became conscious of shifts in the way that I was experiencing nature and shifts have become more dramatic and powerful for …

Not only does May bring us flowers, but it also brings a bounty of fun and family friendly events, activities and observances.  International Compost Awareness WeekMay 6 - 12 Join composting advocates from across the United States and Canada in celebrating this year's theme: "Compost! … Replenish the Earth for Generations." Learn more about composting and help spread the word!   Inaugural National Bike to School DayWednesday, May 9 Join in on the first ever National Bike to School Day. Plan an event or register for one in your neighborhood. Get details.  Rock Creek Garlic Mustard …

Would you be more likely to: eat at a restaurant that goes out of its way to  compost its own waste, stay at a hotel because it engages in sustainable practices, or patronize a business because it is green certified?  Alexandria green-certified restaurants and businesses and the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association (ACVA) believe that many of us would and they are making it easier for us to find out about such businesses.  And, if you are a business owner or organization in the city of Alexandria, the ACVA is making it easier for you to get certified and to let prospective customers…

If you read my New Year’s column, you know that I am not big on resolutions, though I do believe in setting intentions for the year ahead. Just as the start of a new year offers an opportunity for a fresh start and new and renewed commitments, Earth Day offers an opportunity to focus our attention and energy on ways that we can have a more positive planetary impact. Each year, in honor of Earth Day, we adopt a new habit, make a new commitment, or develop a new routine that helps us to reduce our negative environmental impact. In years past, we have pitched paper towels and paper napkins in …

I have been on a quest to have our family spend more time in nature, both through structured activities, like hikes and visits to nature centers, and more casual activities, like keeping a nature journal or observing clouds and weather. We have also gotten involved in soccer, which made me wonder … does time spent on the soccer field count as time connecting with nature? In February, with just minutes to spare until the impending deadline, we signed up all three kids for soccer through the Alexandria Soccer Association. It was a big leap for our family … our first foray into organized team …

In addition to April showers, this month also brings us Earth Day and a number of other eco-friendly events for your enjoyment! Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments section.  Alexandria Spring Clean-Up*Saturdays, April 14 – May 5 (see web ite to determine the date for your zone)Here is your big chance to put all of that miscellaneous waste to the curb! Eligible items include: Reusable items (including furniture) Metal items (hangers, small appliances, pots and pans) Electronics (televisions, stereos, computers) Refuse Not accepted: concrete, hazardous waste, unbundled brush, loose …

Rumors abound that local families who are on top of their game have their summer plans locked and loaded by the end of February. If you are like me and have not yet solidified your plans, here is a great green summer camp worth exploring: Arcadia Farm Camp. In the southern expanse of Alexandria that is part of Fairfax County, lies Woodlawn estate, a 126-acre property that was originally part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Offering a reprieve from the collage of shopping centers, gas stations and office buildings that define the Route 1 landscape, the stately grounds, stables, buildings…