Self-Publishing & Eco-Friendly Printing

When I decided to self-publish the Pricing Workbook for Creatives instead of trying to go through traditional publishers, one of the things I also retained control over was how it would be printed, and who it would be printed by.  Of course, control also means added responsibility and workflow steps to make it all happen, but after so many years of running an entire creative business largely on my own,  I'm no stranger to managing a lot of things.

Luckily I didn't have any expectations of how long this process would take.  

I knew some things would just take time, and getting paper samples from a variety of printers has certainly taken a bit more time than I might have guessed.  In some cases, samples arrived in one week from contacting a printing house, in others, it was three weeks just for paper samples to arrive for testing as workbook paper to write and erase on.

I care about how it feels to actually do the work and write on the paper, and I want to make sure it's a good experience that feels good to keep working on, no matter how many times it needs to be erased.

There have also been about 50% dropped inquiries, where I've requested a quote and received half follow-up on a quote or total radio silence.  Obviously I'm going to give my business to the responsive printing companies that care about communication, rather than those that don't follow-thru.  I also learned that some paper samples looked really promising online, but once I had them in my hands, I realized they weren't going to work due to the actual texture and surface of the paper, which is exactly why I needed to make sure I received some samples and not just price quotes.  Apparently I'm super picky about paper!



(Paper sample from Rolling Press based in Brooklyn, NY.  Great for writing & erasing on!)

I would like to be conscious about my printing options by choosing recycled paper products and non-toxic soy-based earth friendly inks.  

Unfortunately, these options are still more expensive than traditional options with less recycled content and toxic inks.  Luckily, I think the material in the workbook is valuable enough to make it worth the cost of paying more to be earth conscious.  I would certainly sleep better at night knowing that people are writing out their future dreams for a passionate creative life on the recycled papers of old corporate reports full of wasteful ideas that require squashing people's dreams for corporate profits.  OK, that may be just a fantasy version of recycled paper use, but it still feels so much more satisfying than thinking about ripping a bunch of old trees out of Indonesia.


(Paper sample from Greener Printer based in Port Richmond, CA.  Better for magazine style photo printing with satin surfaces than for gritty workbook printing.)

The hardest part is the financial sustainability of printing on eco-conscious papers while also working with traditional publishing and distribution options.  

One printing quote I received from a shop in Los Angeles that had been recommended by a New York art book printer was so high that I literally think I lost my ability to breathe when I looked at the quote.  They were 3x more than any other quote- which meant they were 9x more than traditional book printing, and I wondered who they are actually working for at those rates?  Maybe they've cornered all the Oscar and Grammy printed program business?  I don't know... but I do know I can't choose a printer who will make the workbook unaffordable to access, just so it can be printed sustainably.

The best eco-friendly printers sent not just paper samples, but entire book samples of products that were similar in shape, size, and binding to the one I'm creating.  

Huge kudos to the book printing houses below for following up on my request for a quote and samples with not just paper samples, but full size workbook samples similar in size, paper type, and binding type to what I was requesting, based on other projects they've already printed in their shop.  I think they know that if we have a great relationship right out of the inquiry gate, I'm going to do all of my follow-up book printing with them- so it's smart move to go a little further up front.


(Book & Paper Sample from Bookmobile based in Minneapolis, MN.  Maximum 30% post-consumer waste paper options.)


(Book & Paper Sample from Thomson-Shore based in Dexter, MI.  Offers 100% post-consumer waste paper options as well as FSC certified mixed PCW options.)

The biggest financial sustainability challenge is combining the cost of eco-friendly printing with Amazon online distribution.

Once I finally got to a place of finding some good potential printing options and selected my ideal printer based on the printing samples, I started pricing out the costs for the printing and shipment, and how much it would leave remaining after Amazon takes their own cut of a book.

This is where Amazon starts to look like the big bad wolf blowing everyone's houses down.  Amazon is a double-edged sword.  On one hand, they cut through a lot of the hassle of working with traditional publishing houses and they give authors more control over updates and changes on their books as well as reaching international markets online.  On the other hand, Amazon is taking 65% of each e-book sale, and about the same percentage after all is said and done of each Print-on-Demand book as well.  Ouch.  This margin is still better than what a traditional publisher would take for a traditional book sale through hundreds of different retail stores, so to an Author, it might also appear to be a better deal than not self-publishing.

Cha-ching for Amazon!  Ouch for the Environment.  

There's also no option to request eco-friendly Print-on-Demand options.  If this was addressed, it could be a huge shift in publishing house practices to make the demand for eco-friendly papers, inks, and binding options more affordable if implemented at the enterprise level of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other print-on-demand providers.  What a massive social change that might create to also make it profitable to employ more people to do more waste-recycling efforts around the world.

If Amazon can't print eco-friendly, I thought, what if I skipped the traditional Print-on-Demand and sold the book as an Amazon FBA seller?  The Amazon cut would be less than the Print-on-Demand option, however, the added cost of using an eco-friendly printing option PLUS the Amazon commission and storage of a large print run of books actually makes it financially unsustainable to work with an eco-friendly option while distributing with Amazon.

FFFFFFFFFFFUCK.  
There goes the eco-friendly print plan for online distribution with Amazon.

If I were going to print a bunch of eco-friendly books, I'd have to find another way to sell them.  I'd have to find a way that didn't take such a large cut of the remaining profit margin after printing them with sustainable papers and inks.  Essentially, I'd only be able to sell environmentally friendly editions as part of workshops, conferences, classes, or learning experiences where I'd haul a bunch of them to provide in person.

I have no plans to become my own distribution center for one-off purchases of a book.  

This is how Amazon and Print-on-Demand options end up winning the online book game and the book profit game in the end, and how they force more books to be printed on papers that are not FSC Certified or post-consumer waste content, with inks that are not environmentally friendly.

Even at the price of a $35 book, it is financially unsustainable to print an environmentally friendly workbook and make it available for distribution through Amazon.  There needs to be enough profit margin to buy the next round of books to be printed as well as shipping, and with Amazon, that's simply not an option.

However, if doing an in-person workshop, where the book is just part of the workshop materials, it's sustainable to go with eco-friendly printing because the only other cost to consider is shipping and it can be folded into the cost of goods to produce the workshop or class, which would definitely be more than $35 in order to be sustainable to run as an in-person workshop.

The unhappy ending.

Since I will be traveling internationally the first year that the Pricing Workbook for Creatives is in production, I will not be able to manage storage of printed books, nor will I be offering workshops in person that will need bulk printed copies of the books.  I'll be giving in to Amazon's business engine, because it's what is going to help the most people while I travel, but not being able to print environmentally friendly is the part that makes me sad.

Hopefully, hearing stories from people around the world who use the workbook to launch their dream projects will make me hate Amazon less.  I hope so.  I need some light at the end of the Amazon distribution tunnel.

I promise to continue fighting and finding a way to make eco-friendly printing easier to access.  

This blog post is just the beginning of the journey to sharing resources around how we can overcome the financial issues involved with eco-friendly printing and focus on finding a better way toward greater financial sustainability with options that offer environmental sustainability.  For now, I have to do what I can to make sure the first year of this book is fiscally sustainable so that it can support the artists and creatives that it needs to serve.  My hope is that next year, I can focus more on workbook offerings that make use of eco-friendly printing sources, as a way to inspire others to do more of the same with the work they create.

The Pricing Workbook for Creatives is scheduled to be released in Kindle format on May 5, 2019.
Sign up if you would like to be on the early release notification: http://pricingworkbookforcreatives.com

LOVE IT: Walking The High Line in NYC

I really needed to find some green space and fresh air to escape the rush of Manhattan and get a more relaxed and grounded perspective on New York City.  When I stepped onto The High Line, I fell in love with the repurposed railroad tracks turned rooftop garden that make the stroll from West 14th Street to West 30th Street one of the most pleasant walks in the city.  Here are some of the things I found... (all iphone/instagram photos)

Last but not least, click play on this 30 second video to get a panoramic view of The High Line and it's Sunday afternoon foot traffic on a beautiful spring day in late April:

Happy Earth Day - Ways to Help Our Planet

Earth Day is when I check in on the recent progress of my favorite organizations that are supporting and responsible and sustainable use of our planet and resources.  If you're getting ready to plan vacations for the year, how about doing a Sierra Club Volunteer Vacation in which you join other earth-friendly people in using your time and talents to help maintain ecosystems throughout the globe?  You could do a Service & History Hike in Hawaii, help Replant A National Forest in Alaska, or even Remove Invasive Plants from Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.  Even if you prefer to spend your vacation relaxing on the beach, a $15 donation to the Sierra Club- America's oldest and largest environmental organization, can help maintain environmental protections and awareness.

Want to find more ways to get involved in environmental non-profits?
Check out this list of --> Green Non-Profits from Mother Jones <--- br="" nbsp=""> If nothing else... at least get outside and take a nice long walk to enjoy the fresh air that breathes life into our bodies and without which we could not survive....

Travel Log: Biodegradable Dirt Painting in Cambridge, England

It was almost too easy to ignore this little work of dirt art while walking along the Cam in Cambridge, England, but as I stepped closer I gained a new appreciation for the time and effort it must have taken someone to etch this from soil. Or had they used some other type of substance which attracted the soil?  It definitely wasn't charcoal.  In any case, it made me stop to consider the possibilities and implications of biodegradable art and their fleeting nature.  Only a photo has the ability to make this art work live on indefinitely.

Arise - Film on Women Creating Environmental Awareness

"We can vision a different reality.  

Once we can vision it within us, we can live it.  

When we live it, then we can radiate it to others." 

- Aida Shibli

Click play on the embedded video below to view the trailer for Arise.  If you're able- come to the screening at the Lowell National Historic Park Visitor Center at 7pm on Tuesday, February 26th- I hope to see you there!


If you'd like to see all of the films that are part of this environmental awareness series, visit the Land, Air, and Water Eco-Film Series Website, sponsored by the Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust.

Make Money Now by Sharing Things You Already Have - Green Idea

There is a huge movement underfoot around making money by sharing your stuff- earning green while being green!  While EBay and Craigslist were the originators of selling things online, the last few years have launched a whole new set of services that are more streamlined and appealing to specific audiences, while also making it easier to crowd-source use and sharing of existing gently used assets already available in your community.  See which of these services would work for you:

SkillShare - Teaching Others Things You Already Know
Have you mastered an art or skill that others often want to learn from you?  Why not create your own learning classroom online to help others out, while also bringing in some extra cash for your time and talent? 


Neighborgoods - Borrow What You Need and Share What You Rarely Use
Instead of buying that thing you really need right now, how about just borrowing it instead?  In most cases, you can "make money" by simply saving money and not charging big items to credit cards.


RelayRides - Share and Rent Cars With Neighbors
In major cities, where people don't even own a car to begin with, there's ZipCar sharing and rental service.  However, if you're in a suburb or remote location, there may not even be a car rental location nearby (I should tell you about my experience in South Dakota).  Maybe you have an extra car that you aren't using, but don't want to sell for those "just in case moments," and it could be earning you some extra cash.  Maybe you just need to "borrow" a car for a few hours but don't want to put your friends out- if so, this may be just the right thing for you.


Poshmark - Share, Buy, and Sell Your Clothing & Accessories
Rather than sending your worn-it-only once, or totally-last-season items to a local consignment shop or Plato's Closet, you can quickly and easily take a photo with your phone and list the closet items you're ready to part with for some extra cash.  Once you find a few people who share your size, it's like being able to raid your friend's closet and knowing that what you're seeing is going to fit and flatter your figure.

AirBnB - Rent Your Extra Rooms, Condos, and Homes
I've already shared how AirBnb made it easy for me to find a place to live in Australia, and if I had an extra room I could rent out, I'd totally list my own space because the people I've met through this service have all been great.  Some people use AirBnb to cover their entire rent and even earn extra cash by simply renting out their apartment while they travel.


Care.com - Earn by Caring for Others
Maybe you don't have anything to offer except your time, and you love helping and caring for others.  Rather than posting to local coffee shop boards, you can share your desire to help others by signing up with Care.com.  If you're looking for a last minute babysitter, weekend dogsitter, or elderly help, you'll be able to find people nearby who can help you out.  A few holidays ago we needed to find a home for our dog to live for two weeks because she wasn't doing well with a regular kennel situation- we were able to find someone on Care.com who cared for her for two weeks and for half the cost of a regular kennel.

Swap.com - Trade for videos, books, games, toys, and movies you want
 Similar to Neighborgoods, but at a national level for smaller items and items you may never want to have returned.  You can list your own, or through the valet service, have Swap.com professionally photograph and list your items for you.

Have you tried any of these services?  Do you know of any others that are great for making the most of what you already have?  Let me know in the comments!

Recycle Your Wedding Flowers - Green Ideas

A couple years ago I met a local florist, Belle Feuille Floral Design, who recycles the big beautiful floral arrangements left over from events like weddings, funerals, and church services, turning them into floral gifts for hospice, hospital, and cancer patients.  What a beautiful way to spread the love and make an investment in gorgeous flowers go even further!  A quick search on the web reveals that she's not the only florist who utilizes a team of volunteers to help spread the love- so as you're meeting with florists for your wedding day- ask if they will recycle the flowers or if they know of a local program that will pick up your flowers after the event for donation.  If your florist doesn't offer a program like this, ask your family members if they know of a retirement home or hospital that accepts floral donations, and if members of your family would be willing to help deliver the flowers after the wedding.

Coming to a City Near You! ... and tracking my carbon trail

Ever since my friend TimCo. told me about Dopplr and using it to track my upcoming trips and share my travel schedule with friends, I've been hooked.

Not only because it helps keep my friends and family in the loop, add upcoming trips automatically to my blog widget, and update my facebook page for me- but also because it tracks my carbon trail and helps me stay aware of the impact I have on the environment. Now, it doesn't always make me feel warm & fuzzy when I look at the carbon trail I'm leaving behind, but it does help me have a basis on which to calculate and be aware of my impact. It also provides me with reports that are both beautiful and useful concerning my travel and carbon impact:


Another service I used to use a lot, but haven't used in a long time because they were a little slow to get plugged into other social media outlets, was Virtual Tourist. It's more about building a social travel guide, kind of like Yelp, but with more opportunities for discussions about certain things to do and places to see. Dopplr also offers an opportunity to add discovered content, but what I like most is knowing when my travel is going to coincide with friends. So - where can we meet up? Are you already on Dooplr? Let's connect! http://www.dopplr.com/traveller/AnneRuthmann

LOVE IT: The Swapaholics

The Swapaholics combine three of my favorite things: fashion, recycling, and an amazing deal! If you've never been to a Swapaholic event, there's no better time than during Boston Fashion Week to check out their Sip & Swap this Thursday at Arts at the Armory in Somerville! Founders Amy Lynn Chase, owner of Haberdash Vintage, and Melissa Massello, creator of Shoestring Magazine, make a powerful pair of fearless fashion finders, bringing their  expertise together for the benefit of lucky swappers. Armed with an impressive team of volunteers, each event provides an opportunity to trade in your less-wanted items for something you'll love more! The best part? You know the entire stash is fresh that day direct from other swappers just like you, and whatever doesn't go home- doesn't come back- it heads off to Salvation Army where the less informed can wade through racks of unwanted clothing and pay more for one piece than you traded for all you can carry!  Want to be in the know before you go?  Check out these  6 Tips for Becoming an Expert Swapaholic!

I had a ton of fun documenting the Canal District Clothing Swap earlier this year, and even did a mini-fashion shoot with Jen Loves Kev and Orchid Grey, who are part of the Delightful Dozen collective of fashion bloggers who trade fashion pieces and interpret them in new ways.





Click play on the slideshow below to see my coverage of the entire swap!

Green Idea: Bridesmaid Dress Recycling

You know that bridesmaid dress sitting in your closet? The one(s) that came with the reassurance that, "you could totally wear it again!" Yet, somehow it's never actually made a second appearance at any event? There's a girl out there who would love that dress more than you ever will. A girl who will look at that dress as a perfect gown for her winter ball or spring prom. A girl who would normally never be able to afford a dress like that.



Donate My Dress has assembled a list of dress donation organizations across the country that will find a deserving girl for that dress you had to have, but will never wear again. I love the event that our local Belle of the Ball creates, which makes getting a used gown a very special experience for girls referred by their school counselors and local social service agencies. If you need any more inspiration to donate, might I suggest watching 27 Dresses?

Smock. Letterpress for Tree Huggers.

At first, I couldn't decide if I wanted to tag this post as "Love It" or "Green", since it appeals to both my love of frivolous and beautiful paper products and my desire to have less impact on the environment, but what a wonderful dilemma to have- so why choose?! I have a quiet obsession with letterpress and I confess to purchasing sets of cards which were never sent to anyone because I coveted them so much. I first discovered Smock Paper through their Etsy shop, which is always my first stop when I want something beautiful and handmade. Before I found out that they were passionate about sustainable business practices, I was already head over heels about their beautiful designs and textured papers:


On the first page of their website, they make their mission clear:
"Smock is a new line of letterpress wedding invitations, letterpress announcements, and letterpress greeting cards — sustainably printed on bamboo paper in upstate New York. We are serious about being a truly green letterpress print shop. We are powered by wind energy. We donate 1% of sales to environmental causes through 1% for the Planet. Our retail packaging is tree-free and petroleum free and certified biodegradable. For our employees, we subsidize 20-week Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) memberships with a local organic farm. Our commitment to the environment affects everything we do."

What a beautiful mission with beautiful products to back it up. Thank you Smock, for doing what other letterpress makers said couldn't be done. ;-)

The Importance of [CLEAN] Air

Are you getting enough Oxygen in your diet right now?



"There is almost no end to the list of critical roles that oxygen plays. It is essential for combustion (oxidation) and acts as a disinfectant, deodorizer, sanitizer and preserver. All of the functions of your body are regulated by oxygen. The ability to think, feel, move, eat, sleep and even talk all depends on the energy oxygen generates. Your brain needs oxygen to process information and your body uses it to metabolize food and to eliminate toxins and waste through oxidation. Oxygen energizes cells so they can regenerate and it provides vital cellular flexibility.

You can see why oxygen must be replaced on a moment-to-moment basis. Oxygen is the only element capable of combining with almost every other element to form the essential components necessary to build and maintain our body." - Vistamagonline.com

Green Boston Wedding Giveaway!

Contest ends April 19th- so get your entries in soon at GreenBostonWedding.com! Video entries are strongly encouraged!! I have to give a HUGE thanks to Kelli Sigmon of Swank Events for bringing all of these fabulous eco-friendly vendors together in one place!! I'm really excited to work with such a green team of Boston wedding vendors!! I just can't wait to see it all come together!! If you know of someone who would love to hear about this contest- please pass it on using the little email icon below!

(Please note: If you've already booked your vendors, please don't enter because we'd like everyone to keep their jobs.)

300 Cans for Comments - WOW!

I tallied up the comments on all of my blogs this week, which include this blog, the Weddingbee PRO Blog and the Photo Lovecat Blog and came up with a final count of 294 comments - WOW!! That's a whole lotta love and a whole lotta cans!! For convenience, I'll be translating that into $300 to go grocery shopping with, and here are some of the items I'll be buying based on suggestions from the comments...

• Amanda, C.J. Scott, Amber Hughes, Jaclyn Marie, Adrienne, & Tanya all love Annie's Natural Mac & Chese or Shells & Cheddar as much as I do!

• Sticky gave me a huge grocery list which I'm happy to accomodate: enchilada sauce, black beans, tuna, mac and cheese, whole wheat pasta, whole peeled tomatoes, artichoke hearts, green beans, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, saltines, mushrooms
• Spam for Ed Pingol (omg, have you seen the spam website lately??)

• Ohana asked me to show my "CANS"- which I'll do later... jeez, I'm not THAT kind of girl!
• Chicken Noodle Soup for Ultimate Image
• Alphagettis or beans for Tracey Waye Kelly
• Peanut butter and honey for Mary Beth
• Kraft Macaroni & Cheese for SoireeLaura, J Castro, thethirddegree, and Nicole Hensley
• Canned pineapples for Vanita
• Spagettios for Adam Tyler
• Tomato Soup for Lisette Price
• Peanut Butter for Tracy Robinson and ShainaPearcePhotography

• Whole Wheat Pasta for Sarah Brittain
• Ramen Noodles for Kay Beaton
• Tuna for Lori
• Canned Peaches for Daria
• Nutella and Marshmallow Fluff for Kat Morse

• Mushrooms & Green Beans for Mellimage
• Canned Corn for Kate@MKDPhotography and Miguel Pola
• Pork & Beans for Josh Solar
• Canned peas and Chick Peas for Amanda
• Vegetarian Refried Beans for Sparks Photography
• Zoodles for Chris+Lynn (Crazy Canadians - do they sell these in the states? If not, I'll try to find some animal shaped pasta for you!)

and last but not least....
• Boston Baked Beans for I.P. Freely... hahahaha!!!

Several fun and unexpted things came out of this project:
• I discovered some new photographers and saw a ton of amazing blogs, including some really awesome customized blogspot blogs which will definitely help inspire me when I want to update this one! (go back through yesterday's list to see them!!)
• I blogged every day this week to help encourage new comments, which was more than I did in the entire month of November!!
• I received lots of links to my blog from other generous people also wanting to make a difference
• I felt lots of love from the people out there who might not normally comment, but are out there lurking regularly - thank you!!
• I got in contact with my local food bank and will be doing a documentary project with them to help bring attention to the need within my community
• I received a great shopping list to help me get started!!

Thank you for all the love and support you've put into this project with me!! I'll definitely do this again next year!! As I mentioned yesterday, I'll be making my donation after the holidays, when donations typically die down, and I'll do my best to document the process from different sides of the story (the giver, the food bank, the receiver). I've always wanted to do a personal project like this, and if it can bring attention to those who have been overlooked, that's even more inspiration to create something incredible. I hope you'll continue to follow this journey with me.
Hugs & Hot Cocoa (w/ canned evaporated milk- the way mom liked to make it),
Anne

Cans for Comments = Time is UP!! Results Posted Tomorrow

I have been overwhelmed with wonderful comments on my blog this week and I look forward to all of the giving I'll be doing!! I wanted to let you know that I will be making my donations after the holiday season, when donations generally die down. Part of my giving will be to document the process of getting food from the hands who give to the hands who need in order to help raise awareness about the needs within my own community, here in Lowell, MA. I would like to challenge the other photographers who are participating to offer the same service to their local food banks. As photographers, we can play an incredibly powerful role by using our imagery to inform, educate, and incite passion for the greater good of all. So please, hop on the "can-wagon" and join us in making this incredibly difficult time a little easier for all. As the economy declines, so do donations.... (click play on the short video below to watch the Reuters report on Food Banks)



You can add years of health and happiness to someone else's life by simply taking a few minutes of your time to leave comments on the blogs of all who are involved:

Special thanks to The Feds who put together the list below of Photographers, Graphic Designers, and Planners blogs who are participating in Cans for Comments.

This is just a *small* list of links starting close to home here in MA and CT
The Feds
MKD
Jason Groupp
Justin and Mary
Alana Couch
Dolce Pics
RockTheWedding
Renee Stephen
DeliciousJuice
Shandro Photo
Lisa Lacroix
Perspective Eye
Picture That
Calla Evans
Lori Moss
J Castro
thinkphotographics
Christine Tremoulet
Melissa Zihlman
Three Heart Photo&Design
Crystal Genes
Courtney Paris

The Roxy Studio
Anika London
Adrienne Gunde
Ed Pingol
Shaina Pearce
Andrea Murphy
This Eclectic Live
Loxy
Blue Orchid
Retropsective
John Waire
Melanie Mansfield
Chantel Stone
MetroBluePhoto
R Peters
Curtis Moore
KampPhotography
Heather Garland
EveryLittleMoment
Nicole Hensley
Rob&Lauren
Lisette Price
RedPhotoCo
Catie Ronquillo
Melanie Driedger
Deb Thompson
The OtherAngle
Edison Photography
Susan B

Asim Soofi
Josh Solar
Misty Dawn
lorenw
Erica May
LivingProof
Smith Gallery
Amie Otto
Lynsey Peterson
Michelle Sidles
Ultimate Image Weddings
Catherine Sparks




If we missed you, please leave a comment below so others can follow the link to your site!

Cans for Comments Food Drive

Video above created by the wildly talented Jerk With a Camera!! (Thank you for letting me borrow your awesomeness!!)

All week long, for any comments left on this blog (or any of the blogs participating in this project) we will donate one can (or non-perishable item) for every comment we receive!! As bloggers and artists, we put ourself and our work out there every day and sometimes those days seem very lonely when we don't get many comments- so warm up our hearts with a little comment to let us know you're out there and we'll pay it forward by warming up the homes of people who need food and shelter this holiday season!! A little bit of love goes a long way!! If you aren't sure what to write for your comment, here's a question to get you started...

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CANNED OR BOXED FOOD?

(Click on "comments" below to respond!)

Feel free to add comments on my other posts as well- I'm up for the challenge! All responses on this blog from now until Friday, Dec 12 (midnight) will turn into donations for the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, which serves my local community. If you're a blogger, don't be afraid to jump on the bandwagon and start this promotion on your blog! There's never too much love in the world!! Special thanks to Chris+Lynn who shared this project with me!

Update: 12/9/08 I wrote my local food bank and asked them what they needed most in their donations...

"The items we need the most include:
Peanut butter/ jelly, pasta, rice, spaghetti/pasta sauce, tuna and canned chicken, canned vegetables and soup (preferably low sodium), canned fruit (preferably lite or low sugar), oatmeal, applesauce, bottled or canned juice, juice boxes, baking items, paper products, baby food, diapers/wipes and personal care items (shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste)"

So, I'll definitely be providing more than just canned goods to my food bank. I'm also going to try to document the process for you so that you can see how it works from start to finish!

NEW: The Totally Green Wedding Photography Collection

The environment has been on my mind a lot lately. Last weekend when I was in Indiana for a wedding, there were very noticeable amounts of pollutants in the air and an unusually large number of people coughing and sneezing at the wedding. You could chalk it up to the season if you want, but as the plane flew over the city, I noticed exactly how much impact various manufacturing plants had on the environment around them as they spewed their chemicals into the air and let them fall on the surrounding communities. Since moving out of Indiana, I've had fewer allergy problems, and I don't doubt that it has something to do with Indiana's lack of recycling and environmental protection policies. Same thing happened while I was driving in Manitoba for a wedding this weekend, and noticed how the emissions stemming from the manufacturing plants would just linger in the air, forming clouds of waste, which would then settle on the surrounding farmland, often causing areas of dense fog around the plant. I can't help but think these emissions could somehow be harnessed into creating more energy in a way that doesn't dump them into the environment. Call me crazy, but I think we need to demand more from our policy makers.



So, after thinking about how much waste there is in the world, I decided that it was time to create a Totally Green Wedding Photography Collection that essentially eliminated all possibility of waste. What does that mean? No printing of prints that aren't absolutely going to be framed, no packaging or shipping materials which need to be discarded, and no mailing of products across many miles in a truck or plane. Some people are going to think this is outrageous, but I think it's exactly what we need right now.



What does the Totally Green Collection include? An online gallery that allows you, your family and friends FREE High Resolution downloads of any and all wedding photos directly to your computer from anywhere in the world with internet acess (great for the recessionistas), an online slideshow album available for download in digital format, and carbon offset credits for the projected energy usage and carbon waste produced by the wedding. All images are fully color-corrected, exposure enhanced, and include creative cropping and toning- making each one its own little piece of sentimental art. Current clients are welcome to trade in their wedding album for the FREE digital downloads gallery if they'd prefer, or can simply add it onto their package for an additional fee (to cover hosting and bandwidth usage). In just a few weeks, all current and future clients will also have the ability to purchase digital downloads from their current galleries as well- WOO HOO!!



I can already see the chaos this is going to cause with some wedding photographers who still can't fathom letting their clients have any of the digital images, and to them I say: get with the program! As an artist, I definitely struggle with the idea of giving up creative control and allowing clients to reproduce my work on sub-par printers or with poor-quality album makers, but the fact is that most of my clients who have received high resolution files in the last few years really haven't done much more than kept them on their computer to look at anyway. To be honest, I can't even remember the last time I printed something for myself- but I do know that I look at my favorite images online all the time! I live such a digital lifestyle that I would be a hypocrite to tell others that they HAD to have their images in physical prints or albums. Of course I'm still offering professional prints and professionally bound albums because I really just don't think there's anything more beautiful and romantic than seeing photos in physical form away from the eye-numbing glow of the computer screen, which is why I still give photo gifts to friends and family in prints and albums even if I don't print much for myself. But for those who embrace the digital lifestyle as much as I do, now there's something for you that embraces the commissioning of the artist's work up front so that it can be freely available for everyone to enjoy later. (Please note that images are available under a creative commons license for personal use only.)

Now that I've put this idea out there, I'd love to hear your thoughts!! What do you think about The Totally Green Collection?



Brides: If you'd like to calculate the total Carbon Emissions for your wedding day, check out this carbon calculator from CarbonFund.org: http://www.carbonfund.org/site/pages/individuals/category/Weddings/

GREEN IDEA: Suit Recycling

Alex (the hubby) and I have been fans of the excellent service of Men's Wearhouse ever since we used them to supply the vests and ties for our wedding (our groomsmen used tuxes they already owned from being musicians... but that's a different kind of suit recycling!)

(Yep, that's us!! I can't believe it's going to be 5 years this October!)

So, I was naturally interested in a post I saw on Vintage Indie Blog that said Men's Wearhouse is doing a National Suit Drive for the months of September and October! Here's why it's more awesome than taking your suit to Salvation Army...

"A Second Chance
For many unemployed men, a new suit is the first step toward a second chance. During the National Suit Drive, every one of our over 550 stores will be collecting gently used professional attire to benefit at-risk men and youth transitioning into the workforce. All clothing we receive will be distributed throughout the community by local nonprofit organizations.

How It Works
Simply visit your nearest Men's Wearhouse store during the months of September and October and donate professional clothing, such as suits, sport coats, slacks, ties, and belts. All donations are tax deductible, and participants will receive a coupon for 10% off* their next Men's Wearhouse purchase as a special thank you. Plus, we'll contribute a new dress shirt for every suit we receive." - National Suit Drive website

I know Alex has a few suit pieces that he's outgrown since college, and he'll definitely be able to use the discount toward something like a new belt or dress shirt. Who knows... an old suit just might end up being super stylish threads for a retro-indie guy like Joce (who snagged his amazing tweed suit from a resale shop!)

Super Easy Ways to Be More Environmentally Friendly

Here are some more ridiculously easy ways to help give this planet of ours a little more lovin' EVERY day!
(all photos are linked to original source)

REFUSE TO IDLE

It drives me bonkers when people sit curbside and just let their cars burn fossil fuels and emit toxic gases because they are just too lazy to turn that little key off and back on again. Even the city of Vancouver, known for cold winters has a no idling LAW to help keep the environment a little bit cleaner!! I don't know if New York taxi cabs would be able to deal with this kind of law, but certainly we can all do our part to reduce the amount of fuel usage and smog. Just turn the car off and leave your parking lights or blinkers on... it's not going to hurt your car or take more than a few seconds to restart it again, I promise!

WALK-THRU

Since so many people are addicted to drive-thrus these days, the wait inside- especially in fast-food joints- is often much QUICKER than sitting in the drive-thru!! I actually did an experiment on several different occasions where I noted the last car waiting in the drive-thru, and then I parked and went in to get service and checked to see how much longer the car I would have been sitting behind would have taken to get the same service. On average, I saved an extra 2 minutes by NOT sitting in the drive through! Plus, I saved 4-5 minutes of letting my car idle!! And I actually burned more calories by getting out and using my muscles instead of sitting in the car for a longer period of time. As if those benefits weren't awesome enough, it's much easier to make use of your own reusable cup or mug when you go inside than it is to ask someone to take it in a drive-thru. So, I challenge you to STOP using the drive-thru in order to save yourself more time, get a little more exercise, and help reduce wasting fuel.

LESS HOT AIR

Your clothes will last longer if you let them dry on a drying rack. Your hair will be healthier if you let it air dry as well. However, I understand that it's not always practical to let everything air dry, which is why there are other ways to reduce the use of energy and speed up drying times. For your laundry, you can use dryer balls to help separate clothes in the dryer, reducing drying times by up to 25%. When it comes to your fabulous mane, you can use Ionic Hair Dryers to not only dry your hair much more quickly, but to also make those lovely locks super shiny!!

PRESSURE CHECK

Make sure your tires are always full of air by checking the tire pressure every few weeks. It only takes a few seconds while you're at the gas station filling up anyway, and it could save you not only money, but fuel efficiency as well. I tend to put a little extra air in my tires (generally no more than an extra 5lbs of pressure), and I can always tell a noticeable difference in my fuel usage. When my tires are low on pressure, I can't make it to Chicago without stopping for gas. When they have plenty of air pressure, I can make the entire trip without stopping. It's really that much of a difference! Try it for yourself!! Another green tip... lay off the gas... learn to enjoy coasting into a stop light or stop sign instead of keeping your foot on the gas. Your breaks and your gas tank will thank you for it. (This means YOU, hubby!!)

SPRING CLEANING

Now that spring is here, I bet you're in a better mood to start those cleaning projects you were putting off all winter long! You can start by simply choosing an environmentally friendly cleaning product the next time you need one from the grocery store! There are now paper towels made from recycled and unbleached materials, biodegradable garbage bags, natural and non-toxic cleaners, and the list goes on. Helping the planet is as easy as simply thinking about what you're buying and how it affects the planet before you make your next purchase.
• Plastic Bags
If you have a lot of plastic bags accumulating because you'd never throw them out knowing that they don't biodegrade, you can now recycle them at your local grocery store! Look for tall white plastic bag recycling containers in the entrance of your local grocery. If the box isn't easy to find, take a quick minute to ask a manager if they offer a plastic bag recycling program, most of them do- they may just need to make it more visible and easy to access!
• Batteries
Proper disposal of batteries is VERY important to the environment and protecting our ground water from harmful toxins. Finding a drop off location for your old batteries is as easy as entering your zip code at www.call2recycle.com.
• Junk Mail
The best way to eliminate junk mail, is to prevent it from coming to your home in the first place. Sign up at www.GreenDimes.com to eliminate the junk from ever hitting your mailbox, and they'll plant a tree or even give you a little green for taking the time to do so!!
• Everything Else
The idea that one man's trash is another man's treasure is the basis behind Freecycle.org. Anything that you think isn't worth selling on EBay, may be worth posting on Freecycle! You never know what someone is happy to take off your hands!

MAKE SOME NOISE

Send a friendly reminder to your congress and house of representatives. Tell them we need action, and we need it now. Here are several petitions that you can quickly and electronically sign in order to help deliver the message of change to our government...
• Sky Petition for cleaner air
• Presidential Pledge to encourage media to focus on environmental issues and to ask our next President elect to take immediate action
• Emissions Petition to enact the Climate Stewardship Act
• Search for a petition that speaks to you on The Petition Site and Petitions Online.

DON'T GIVE UP

No one is perfect. I wish I could live my life totally green friendly, but it's not always practical. The important part is that I make efforts where I can, and that little changes everyday can help add up to a lot of impact in the long run. Being green is more of a journey than a destination. You just take it one step at a time, making better decisions and choices as you go. ;-)

And now.... my theme song for progress... just look how far we've come since tapered jeans and man bangs...

April Desktop Images

Every month I try to post a new image that is suitable for displaying at desktop size and resolution. Click on an image to download a copy and freshen up your desktop!



Spring is here!!! I love looking at the sky- the clouds, stars, whatever it may be. I love feeling that sense of infinity. After spending a lot of time indoors during the winter months, nothing feels better than getting out and being able to enjoy a spring day. After living in Michigan for a long time, I'm still not quite used to seeing so many blooms in early April, but the trees around here just get better every day. Both of these images were taken with my point & shoot. This next one was done on macro mode- these blossoms are only maybe an inch large in person....



This next image is not my own, but since April is Earth Day, take moment to click and view what these icons mean and how they can help us be more environmentally friendly every day. It's all about small changes adding up to big impact.