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7 Tips to For Growing a Green Family & A Growing a Green Family" Prize Pack #GIVEAWAY

Environmental experts Rosaly Byrd and Laurèn DeMates present readers with an optimistic yet realistic approach to sustainable living in Sustainability Made Simple: Small Changes for Big Impact Rowman & Littlefield). 7 Tips to For Growing a Green Family


Part 1 of the book was a lot to read. It covers the big issues as like air pollution, deforestation, loss of carbon sinks, climate change and more. It also gives a ton of information in grayed boxed sections about the contaminated water problem in Flint, the garbage patch in our oceans, the Amazon and more. The book also places the blame on certain groups telling us who is doing what.

Part 2 was my favorite section of the book. I actually loved it. There was a ton of info how to change our personal carbon footprint such as using less plastic bags, air conditioning and heating suggestions like closing shades to keep the room cooler, being conscious of when we use the oven (we have started doing this, hanging our clothes instead of using the dryer and so much more.

Many of these are things we have always done but a lot of them were things that have fallen by the wayside including a few new things LIKE finding out if our electric company has partnered with a technology company. They have and this month we decided to buy a new fridge and our electronic company is taking our old one AND giving us a $50 check because our new one uses less electric. LOVE THAT!!!! Check with yours the next time you are getting rid of yours appliances. They unit must work but hey they remove it and a check?! SO worth it.

There is a really great section about the kitchen and the dining room table that suggests eating local and seasonal. Helping the farmers in my area is important to me but did you know that eating food out of season increases your chance of consuming a whole lot of chemicals. The food is being shipped so you are also contributing to the extra cost of energy being used for that.

The book and the bag above are great. I love the bag so much it is my GO TO BAG for when we head out to the pool. It carries all our snacks and never gets wet! How cute are those cherries?! 

Laurèn DeMates is a sustainability professional committed to improving the environmental impact of government, corporations, and individuals. Her work has included applying behavioral and social science-based strategies to increase energy efficiency in the federal government and assisting companies collect and analyze corporate social responsibility metrics. Laurèn is a LEED Green Associate and a co-founder of The Sustainability Co-Op blog. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a Master’s degree in International Affairs, and from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences.

This book definitely has me thinking differently about a lot of things so I am so happy to report that I have a book to giveaway to one of my readers as well as more information

Stay on top of things by visiting and subscribing to Lauren and Rosaly's blog at



Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book and large reusable Baggu tote bag to review. My reviews are 100% honest and true based on my personal opinion not on a company’s description or request. I am not employed by any company I review for. No monetary compensation was received. 
My not eating meat and recycling :)

