Going Green Tampa

Inform your individual purchasing power and daily routine this year with an ecological-inclined mindset. Learning even more about the green marketplace and how it can enhance plenty of elements in the day-to-day with the start of the New Year is a great starting point. Even as you purchase goods and services, there are eco-friendly options out there that you may utilize to influence your everyday routine bring a sense of value to the things we sometimes overlook.

1. Say goodbye to ammonia and lye. Choosing to abandon chemically-laden hair products like dyes, colors, and shampoos and adopt natural-based ones are better for your blood stream and the waste-streams that course through the natural environment. Let a new haircut or treatment inspire you to make the switch to natural-based hair products. Talk with your current hairdresser about incorporating only natural and organic hair products for your regimen, and carry on at home when you style on your own. Jules at Jules Organic may have some great tips for you. Also see our Salon & Spa category to find other local organic salons.

2. Garbage disposal. You have a garbage disposal in your sink, a recycling container in the garage and a compost bin in the yard. But do your neighbors and co-workers? Do what you can to encourage them to do their part in recycling their waste. Set up a recycling center in your office or offer to take a neighbors recyclables with you when you drop yours off at the nearest recycling center. Show them how easy and beneficial it is to compost kitchen scraps.

3. Organic-ize your business property. Or your home, apartment complex, schoolyard and church lot. Unused space in the front? Empty lot around the back? Fill it with purpose. In this case, purposefully-placed vegetation that your patrons, visitors and communities can benefit from. Learn how to get this all started, or at least a blueprint of it, by the team at GroO. Since you have decided to start planting, a natural-based soil fertilizer along with compost is ideal for the soil. OceanSolution is a mineralizer that can help your plants reach their full-potential - organically.

4. Invest in a bicycle. Or if you already have one, invest in it’s maintenance. The utility of a bicycle will come in the form of quick trips to a nearby store, a spur of the moment visit to a friend or relative, or picking up a book from the library. You can also use it to meet new people where a bicycle is a requirement. Look into City Bike Tampa website events for more info on community gatherings. Check out Tampa Bay Bike Co-op to learn how to repair and maintain your bike.

5. Treat yourself with health. Being good to the environment involves care, maintenance and also a lot of strength. Much like what our bodies need. When you treat yourself with healthful practices, it can put into perspective just how valuable our bodies really are. Like a really good massage. Known to alleviate stress and tension, an occasional massage incorporated into your health routine is can supplement your skin, your exercise routine, and even your mood. Check out My Body Reboot for starters. When you treat yourself with health, it’s nearly impossible to feel guilty.

Anything with proper maintenance can last longer, work stronger and serve it’s purpose better. That’s real value. Whether it’s eating more healthily with whole foods, releasing tension with a beneficial massage, reducing your trash’s carbon footprint, or caring for your beauty with natural ingredients created to let it shine, recognize the value in the green marketplace and in yourself this New Year.

Please visit my blog, Inspire Your Environment, to see how you can become involved in your community.