Fair Trade Blog - A Better Footprint (formerly Worldgoods)

Summer Sale At A Better Footprint!

2008-06-18T22:43:00.004-05:00

Well, now Miranda and Kyle are back from Africa! We're making room for all of the new treasures, including our new favorite item, the recycled can cars!! To help us clear out some inventory and make room for the new, we've got everything on sale in the online store!

The recycled can cars are often made from bug spray cans, which are used to treat mosquito nets. Sleeping under a treated net helps save children as well as pregnant mothers from contracting malaria. Gambia is one of the countries afflicted by high rates of malaria. Your purchase of these recycled items, arriving soon, helps manage the waste from treating these nets and supports creative arts and employment for Gambian artists at the Brikama Craft Market.

We're also extending our summer sale for wholesale customers. We're offering more than 15 fair trade items at heavily discounted prices for retail and gift shop owners interested in selling our fairly traded products. Check back often for updates and new products - you'll see them online before we get our new catalog designed!!

It's Mango Season in Gambia!

2008-06-02T04:55:00.003-05:00

Greetings from the field! Kyle and Miranda are certainly enjoying mango season in The Gambia...in fact, it's even dangerous to sit under the mango tree, as they are dropping from very tall heights! Our friends here tell us that even cows die sometimes from getting hit by a mango. What a way to go...

Anyway, we've been enjoying weather in the upper 90s (plus humidity), delivering shoes to needy school children, touring the new Brikama Craft Market, where each carver/finisher has a locked door on their shop and the potential for electricity in the future. They are working on some new creations for us made from scrap wood, recycled bottle caps and soda cans, handmade recycled paper, and other things.

Tomorrow, we leave for Njau, in the upper provinces, where women have now trained residents in three neighboring villages how to recycle plastic bags. We are very happy to see that production is increasing because this means that the clean up of Gambia is also increasing. We are also very excited to see the progress of the women in terms of savings accounts and the raised standard of living due to the wider market for their fair trade purses. They will also show us some new designs in which they can make recycled plastic bracelets, bookmarks, and even larger totes made from recycled onion bags and rice and flour sacks. We are so excited to be creating a better footprint on the environment with a new line of recycled crafts!!

In other news, we attended a Naming Ceremony yesterday in the very south of Gambia, just near the border of Senegal. When the name was announced, Fatoumata, everyone was dancing (especially the women). There were traditional drummers, myriad colors and fabrics adorning the women and men of the family, and lots and lots of food!

We want to hear from you! Ask us your questions about our trip. We hope to post a few more blogs, but Internet is difficult for us here amidst the conditions and the busy schedule. We also have been experiencing a water shortage, and to-date have gotten just one "shower." But - thank goodness for bucket bathing and wells!

That's all for now, check in with us later!

Bon Voyage, Miranda!

2008-05-25T23:23:00.000-05:00

Miranda left today for another inspiring trip to West Africa. Check back soon for her adventures in Africa, stories from the field, and a report on how our partner artisan groups in Gambia are doing. Oh, and maybe she will see a warthog again!

Fair Trade Brownie Recipe to LIVE for!

2008-05-08T16:08:00.000-05:00

You might say the Fair Trade Brownies that Brother Steve makes are to "die for," but at A Better Footprint, we'd say they are to LIVE for. Using Equal Exchange or other Fair Trade organic cocoa is the secret. Using Fair Trade cocoa in your brownies ensures that cocoa was not picked by child slaves in West Africa, but rather by farmers who received a fair price and have safe and healthy working conditions. By replacing conventional cocoa with Fair Trade cocoa, you're making a world of difference!

And, since SO MANY of our store visitors have asked for the Fair Trade Brownies recipe, we're posting it online. AND - come down to the retail store in Downtown Green Bay, WI this Saturday from 12-4 for FREE fair trade brownies and organic fair trade coffee!

Brother Steve's Fair Trade Brownies
(adapted from Annalise Peck's "Brownies", in _Our Favorite Recipes_, Thomas Lake Elementary, 2004, p. 104)

1 C melted butter
2 C sugar
1/2 C FAIR TRADE baking cocoa
4 eggs
2 t vanilla
1 1/2 C flour
1 t salt

Mix dry ingredients--flour and salt together. Set aside. Add melted butter to sugar and FAIR TRADE cocoa. Add in eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Add dry ingredient mixture. Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

To make Fluffy peanut butter frosting (from allrecipes.com)
1/2 C butter, softened
1 C creamy peanut butter
3 T milk (or as needed)
2 C confectioner's sugar

Place the butter and peanut into a medium bowl, and beat with an electric mixer. Gradually mix in the sugar, and when it starts to get thick, incorporate milk one tablespoon at a time until all of the sugar is mixed and the frosting is thick and spreadable. Beat for at least three minutes for it to get good and fluffy.

See you at A Better Footprint on Saturday, where you can taste these FREE (while they're here) and be a part of World Fair Trade Day 2008. The store is located at 1228 Main Street #1, Green Bay, WI 54302.

Fair Trade Store Attempting to Break World Record, With Others

2008-04-29T11:18:00.004-05:00

NEWS RELEASE

(Green Bay) A Better Footprint (1228 Main Street Suite #1) will participate in World Fair Trade Day by joining others around the country in an attempt to set the world record for the biggest ever Fair Trade coffee break by providing FREE coffee at their store on Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 12:00 pm-4:00 pm. Fair Trade coffee guarantees a fair price for farmers and artisans, a better future for the planet, and a tastier, higher quality product for coffee drinkers. The Fair Trade coffee breaks are to be held simultaneously around the country, at 2:00 pm central time. To officially participate in the record breaking attempt, visit A Better Footprint to take a free coffee break and sign the official ledger.

People around the country from Boston to Boulder and Milwaukee to San Francisco will stage a “Fair Trade Coffee Break” on May 10, World Fair Trade Day. The Fair Trade coffee breaks will focus on the benefits of Fair Trade to farmers, consumers, and the environment. A Better Footprint will join with people from 70 countries worldwide to celebrate World Fair Trade Day and highlight the importance and benefits of Fair Trade.

A Better Footprint will have various flavors of free organic coffee available in the café so take a break and enjoy a cup of Fair Trade Coffee. Join in celebrating Fair Trade by visiting A Better Footprint, located at 1228 Main Street in the Olde Town Crossing building, with parking available behind the store.

For further information call founder Miranda Paul at (920)-569-6332, e-mail fairtrade@worldgoodsgb.com or visit www.ABetterFootprint.org. Also visit www.FTRN.org to learn more about Fair Trade and get involved.

Recycle Your Shoes This Earth Day

2008-04-19T14:50:00.002-05:00

A Better Footprint (Formerly Worldgoods Fair Trade) is attempting to help African children leave better footprints this summer when they deliver your donations of gently used shoes.

Hundreds of children in the village of Brikama, Gambia (as well as neighboring towns) walk without shoes on roads lined with garbage and broken glass. Miranda Paul, Founder, has even witnessed kids sharing shoes as they relieve their teammates during a local soccer match.

So what can be done? Simply look through your closet, and find those walking shoes, tennis shoes, and dress shoes that you no longer wear. Drop them off at our retail store in Green Bay, WI or mail them to:

A Better Footprint / Worldgoods

1228 Main Street, Suite #1,

Green Bay, WI 54302.

Donations will be accepted until May 11th. They will be delivered the first week of June to the kids of Gambia, West Africa. If you are in need of a flyer or collection bin please contact miranda@worldgoodsgb.com (or just use a cardboard box!). Thanks in advance for your support.

Take a Sneak Peek at Our New Store this Saturday!

2008-03-19T15:37:00.001-06:00

Riverfront, exposed brick, original 1800s hardwood floors, large retail windows, a common area cafe downstairs for gatherings...it's perfect!

Choosing a renovated historic building in the lovely downtown (Olde Main) district rather than opting for new construction was a no-brainer, says Miranda Paul. If you look at the "greenest" option as well as the overall shopping atmosphere, this was the best choice for our gallery to move, for aesthetic and environmental reasons. Come see how beautiful it looks filled with ethically sourced Fair Trade art and gifts!

If you live in Northeastern Wisconsin and would like to take a Sneak Peek at our store this Saturday, March 22nd, just stop by between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The address is: 1228 Main Street, Olde Town Crossing, Green Bay, WI 54302. Parking is available in the rear, behind Big Tomatoes and Los Banditos.

If you can't make it this weekend, please attend our Public Grand Opening Extravaganza and Earth Day Celebration on April 22, 2008. Feel free to call and inquire about store hours and hosting a Fair Trade Fiesta for your friends and co-workers at 920-569-6332. See you there!

Open Your Own Fair Trade Business TODAY!

2008-03-03T14:57:00.002-06:00

After one complete year in business, Miranda Paul (Worldgoods Founder) sighs. "I've learned so much," she says. "Why wasn't anyone there to tell me some of what I REALLY needed to know when I started?"

Miranda is working on a new project, geared toward people who want to open new fair trade stores, boutiques, internet ordering sites and catalogs. Collecting information from a variety of sources - including the most important source, store owners' experiences - Miranda will be releasing this FREE (yes, FREE) PDF guide soon.

The guide will contain everything from how to use vegetables as nice-looking displays to getting through the nightmare we know as importing. Based largely on Miranda's experiences, the guide might not be perfect for everyone's ideas, but it won't cost you anything either!

If you're reading this post, you're probably already thinking about opening a Fair Trade store in your church, at your home, or helping out this AMAZING industry in some way. And you're a smart thinker for doing so. Many of our partner companies have been experiencing 40% annual growth, and Fair Trade products in general are bringing in new sales at an amazing rate. So, Fair Trade and eco-friendly business is both a viable and a noble choice for moms, volunteers, and small-business owners right now.

I hope I can help you grow your business so that we can make a difference in the lives of our artisan partners. To pre-order / request your FREE PDF Guide to Opening Fair Trade Business, click here. **The guide will come out in early April and will be sent only to those who register. Those who pre-register by March 17th are eligible for a free wholesale sample product from Worldgoods.**

Calling all Models! Be in the Worldgoods Catalog

2008-02-25T13:45:00.001-06:00

Attention models, ordinary citizens - anyone who wants to support Fair Trade - if you're in the Green Bay / Fox Cities area, we're looking for volunteers who want to give their time and good looks to help us build our summer 2008 catalog. All you have to do is contact us and then we'll schedule you for your time on Thursday, February 28th.

If you can't make the photo shoot, but are interested in volunteering for Worldgoods in another capacity, feel free to also contact us!

Other Upcoming Dates of Interest:

March 1 - 10:00 AM - Informational meeting for Summer 2008 Artisan Trip to West Africa. Come by if you're interested in traveling with Worldgoods to Senegal, The Gambia, and possibly Guinea-Bissau. Hear about everything from immunizations to fees to what we hope to accomplish. the meeting will be held at 602 Zelas Drive, Green Bay, 54311.

March 6 - 6:30 p.m. - Invisible Children will be screening their documentary about the Lost Children of Uganda on the UWGB Campus, and Worldgoods Fair Trade items will be for sale. A percentage of proceeds will benefit this non-profit organization and their work with orphaned children of war.

March 17th - Our new catalog will be released! Make sure to request a catalog now! To save unnecessary paper and our impact on the environment, the catalog will only be mailed to those who are on our mailing list. You may also request a paperless catalog via email.

Fair Trade Diamonds and Wal-Mart

2008-02-13T13:04:00.002-06:00

Conflict-free and eco-friendly alternatives are available online at brilliantearth.com

With Valentine's Day approaching, we've all seen the barrage of television ads enticing and imploring us to buy diamond jewelry for our loved ones.

But did you know that the international diamond trade has supplied billions of dollars to rebel groups in Africa, fueling wars that have killed more than 4 million people?

This Valentine's Day, tell Wal-Mart to make sure jewelry purchases aren't destroying African lives.

The stories from these wars are harrowing.

Men, women, and children have been raped, tortured, maimed, and displaced by rebel groups who have been funded in part by the illegal sale of diamonds. Diamonds have also been used by al Qaeda and other terrorists to finance their activities and for money-laundering purposes, according to news reports.

As public outrage over conflict diamonds has grown, governments and industry leaders have taken some important steps to stem their trade. But the problem still isn't solved: For example, diamonds mined in rebel-held areas of the Ivory Coast are still being smuggled into the legitimate global market despite a U.N. embargo in place since 2005.

And while the World Diamond Council has spent millions on a global public-relations campaign, many companies have failed to match their rhetoric with action - including Wal-Mart, the nation's largest jewelry retailer, which has been particularly vague about its processes for ensuring that conflict diamonds are not sold in its stores.

If retailers and diamond companies are truly serious, they must implement comprehensive and independently verified processes to ensure that the diamonds they buy are conflict-free.

And as American consumers - who purchase half of all retail diamonds worldwide - we have an obligation to let the industry know we care about where they're getting their diamonds.

Click here to send a message to Wal-Mart and the World Diamond Council, calling for meaningful action to end the trade in conflict diamonds.

We're Growing-And We Want YOU! Job Postings

2008-01-24T22:31:00.001-06:00

We're Growing and Want YOU to join us! Please take some time to review our latest job postings, where you can explore options for a career in Fair Trade. We have two positions that can be accomplished from anywhere in the United States, and four location-specific jobs, mostly geared for those in or willing to locate to Northeastern Wisconsin.

Below is a listing of job, internship and career opportunities with Worldgoods Fair Trade available immediately. While we accept résumés year round, qualified applicants for specific available positions are considered and filled first. View our jobs page now!

Independent Sales Ambassadors
Read More at: worldgoodsgb.com/joinourteam.html

Marketing / Public Relations Intern
Download Description/Application

Regional/National Fundraising Coordinator
Download Description/Application

Accountant/Inventory Manager
Download Description/Application

Customer Service Associates
Download Description/Application

Independent Distributors/Brokers
Contact: Miranda at fairtrade@worldgoodsgb.com

Evanston, IL Native Joins Worldgoods Team

2008-01-15T14:01:00.000-06:00

Recently, Worldgoods welcomed yet another Ambassador to the team of advocates helping to market and sell Fair Trade products on behalf of our artisan partner groups. Sarah Martin has joined a team of diverse people who have already supported our cause with a resounding, "Yes!"

Sarah grew up in Evanston, IL (just north of Chicago) and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2002 with an economics degree. She has worked as a commercial credit analyst at Ravenswood Bank ever since and joined the ND Club of Chicago service committee in 2004.

Now a member of her alumni club board, Sarah is coordinating 100 service events throughout 2008 to engage more volunteers and non-profit organizations.

Sarah hopes to improve the economic condition of women and communities throughout the world and minimize our environmental footprint within a fair trade context of compassion and justice through her new position as a Worldgoods Ambassador.

Worldgoods is proud of each and every one of our Ambassadors and we welcome Sarah!

Learn how YOU can help our cause! You can volunteer or even get paid to help Worldgoods do important global work. Complete Ambassador Welcome Kits start at $99 and include over $130 worth of products and promotional materials.

Worldgoods Owner Featured On Cover of City Magazine

2008-01-09T00:16:00.001-06:00

What's the Buzz? Miranda Paul's on the cover of the December You! Magazine. Circulated to wide readership in Northeastern Wisconsin, freelance writer Sharon Verbeten's article is putting Fair Trade in the spotlight. Read an excerpt from the article, titled "Global Awakening" below. Or, pick up a copy FREE at any downtown newspaper kiosk!

EXCERPTS FROM THE ARTICLE

Miranda Paul is one young woman who doesn’t just “talk the talk” when it comes to making a difference globally. She definitely “walks the walk;” in fact, she’s walked the roads of West Africa several times, hoping to deliver a bit of a better life to impoverished families.

“When we started this,” Paul says, “We didn’t really know what education was out there on fair trade.” The term refers to a way of doing business with disadvantaged artisans and farmers, providing fair treatment and fair wages for their work. By doing so, Paul says, “At the end of the day, [the workers] are able to put their kids through school…there’s a higher standard of living.”

At the prompting of her college professor, Paul first traveled to Gambia in 2003 to teach English and literature to 10th graders. “I made this promise to the people of Gambia that I was going to share their story,” says Paul, who has visited the poor rural West African nation several times to work with craftsmen. “People think I go over there to shop,” Paul says. “We give [the natives] business assistance.”

Often, Paul says, craftsmen would sell their wares for less than their costs, “perpetuating the cycle of poverty.” Using a fair wage guide, Paul ensures the artisans price their items appropriately, to offer them a decent living wage. For example, Paul brings items directly from Gambia to her store. In fact, Paul says Worldgoods is the first business in the United States to import fair trade from the country.

Not only does a fair trade agreement mean better prices (for both buyer and seller), it also offers accountability. “You can trace an item to its source,” she says. “And there’s a story behind every product.”

Read the entire article here!

Award-Winning Author Interviews Worldgoods Owner, Miranda Paul

2008-01-05T15:48:00.000-06:00

Just released to the public is the full interview between Norma Lehmeier Hartie and Miranda Paul, on the topic of waste management problems and the Fair Trade Recycling solutions in the tiny African nation of The Gambia. In the interview, Hartie asks Paul, Worldgoods Founder, in-depth questions about the environmental situation in the country and how the Njau Recycling and Income Generating Group got started and continues their work in providing creative "green" solutions and products. This interview is one of a newly founded series of interviews with green experts who discuss a wide variety of environmental issues.

Norma Lehmeier Hartie is the Grand Prize Winner of the 15th Annual Writer's Digest International Independently Published Book Awards, and a Finalist in ForeWord Magazine's and Nautilus Book of the Year Awards. The title of her Award-Winning Book isHarmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet

Read the full interview now!

Learn more about Hartie's book by clicking here!

Worldgoods Now Accepting the "Fair Trade Gift Card"

2007-12-13T15:02:00.000-06:00

Click the image to Buy the Card now!

It really is the perfect gift! Imagine a Gift Card that you can use at any participating Fair Trade Federation Retailer throughout the country!

Worldgoods has signed up as one of many participating organizations and businesses to accept these cards, which allow you to give a gift with so many ethical options!

Fair Trade Gift Card.com supports Fair Trade producers and stores! And there's still plenty of time to get someone on your list this gift, as it only takes seconds to get it and it's delivered immediately to your email address...great for all those last-minute gifts.

To purchase an email gift card, simply click on the logo above. Fair Trade Gift Card.com will email you the Gift Card and supporting information allowing you to either print out the card and mail it or forward the Gift Card to your gift card recipient.

If you would like to learn more about Fair Trade please visit: The Fair Trade Resource Network or The Fair Trade Federation.

By purchasing Fair Trade Gift Cards you can improve the lives of people and workers around the world as well as helping others learn more about Fair Trade. A Fair Trade gift card gives more than once. First to the receiver who gets a positive gift, second to the artisan who is making a living wage while working in safe and healthy conditions. And third to the environment and the wildlife that was not damaged by another gift option. A dozen $10 gift cards handed out to teachers, coaches, coworkers, acquaintances or to the mailman or newspaper girl could double fair trade this year. If a few of them do the same, you are multiplying fair trade exponentially making your small gift a historic public awareness campaign. Thank you for doing that.! Fair Trade Cards are not only a gift; they are a way to improve our world.

Worldgoods is planning soon to sell the gift cards as well!

Click the image to Buy the Card now!

Worldgoods Owner Miranda Paul Promotes Fair Trade on WBAY TV

2007-12-04T15:20:00.000-06:00

On Tuesday, December 4th, Miranda had a different sort of lunch hour! As a huge advocate of Fair Trade, and without a PR Team, Miranda is constantly on the go finding ways to get the word out about Worldgoods and how to help families in need all year round.

Watch the video clip now (click link below) as Miranda Paul, Worldgoods Founder, shares a bit about Fair Trade with Green Bay and the Fox Valley!

World Goods Fair Trade on Action 2 News at Noon

Worldgoods Becomes Full Member of U.S. Fair Trade Federation

2007-11-28T09:42:00.001-06:00

Over the last couple of months, Worldgoods Fair Trade has been preparing, submitting, and receiving feedback on our business practices during the screening process of becoming a member of the U.S. Fair Trade Federation. After members of the board evaluated Worldgoods as a whole, including checking international and local references, reviewing financial data, and examining all aspects of our company, we're proud to announce that the board's decision was to accept Worldgoods Fair Trade into the U.S. Fair Trade Federation for full and immediate membership.

Our excitement for our artisans, especially those in The Gambia, West Africa, is growing as we realize the exposure and validation will continue to help fulfill our mission as a company. For these Gambian artisans, women, and families, Worldgoods is the first and only U.S. Fair Trade Federation member representing and marketing their goods at this time.

Soon, you'll begin to see the Fair Trade Federation "stamp" or "logo" on some of our printed material, but that doesn't mean we've changed our values or commitment. In fact, it's a promise to continue to work even harder at ensuring every decision we make is one that will help fulfill our mission of economic justice, positive global relationships, and providing assistance to disadvantaged or marginalized people around the world.

To view some of the products that represent the pledge of Fair Trade Federation members, please click here.

From the Global Exchange Website:
Q. What is Fair Trade?

A. Fair trade means that farmers, workers, and artisans: receive a sufficient price under direct long-term contracts,
are small-scale producers in democratic co-ops (coffee, cocoa, bananas, fruits, crafts) or workers on larger farms who receive a living wage and can bargain collectively (tea, bananas, fruits), don't use abusive child labor or forced labor, and use ecologically sustainable methods.

Fair Trade products bear the "Fair Trade Certified" label and the "Fair Trade Federation" logo. TransFair USA is the third-party certification agency that places the "Fair Trade Certified" label on coffee, chocolate, cocoa, tea, bananas, and other fruits; and is the USA's affiliate of the Fair Trade Labelling Organizations International. The Fair Trade Federation is an association of businesses that follow Fair Trade principles exclusively.

The presence of the Fair Trade Certified label or Fair Trade Federation logo on a product is the only guarantee that every step from the producer to you has followed international fair trade criteria. For the specific guidelines, see the Fair Trade Labelling Organizations International and the
Fair Trade Federation.

To read more Fair Trade Q&A, please visit the Global Exchange Website.

Fair Trade Comes to Local High School This Weekend

2007-11-08T17:56:00.001-06:00

Worldgoods Fair Trade will be present this weekend at the East High School Christmas Craft Fair. Please stop by and learn about Fair Trade, as well as shop for those on your holiday list this year!

We'll be bringing a nice assortment of gifts, jewelry, art, and crafts to the fair, which is held in the gymnasium of East High School (Green Bay, WI) on Saturday, November 10th from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. East High school is located at 1415 E. Walnut St. and the craft show is sponsored by the Parent Network.

If you would like to volunteer for the event, please contact us!

Gambian Peace Corps Volunteer Applies for Micro-Grant

2007-11-06T10:18:00.002-06:00

Allison Hoff is the the Health and Community Development Peace Corps volunteer working with the Njau Recycling and Income Generating Group. She just moved to Njau about a month ago after working in Kombo for 6 months with a support network of women with HIV/AIDS, and she is still adjusting to the community and village life, which Allison says, "Hasn't been very hard since everyone is so wonderful in Njau!"

Recently, Worldgoods informed her about the Project Good Micro-Grant Applications, and Allison promptly began the long trup back to the Peace Corps office to apply. Isatou Ceesay, Project Manager, and the group of women would like to use the money to purchase additional sewing machines and tailoring supplies for the center. "Tailoring classes are held weekly for members," said Allison, "but there are currently only 3 available sewing machines."

They will soon be starting a daily training program for 8 drop-out students (including 3 women who have never attended school), and the additional machines and supplies will be necessary to effectively train the students in tailoring. Miranda Paul, Worldgoods co-owner and founder, also met several of the women who were interested in expanding tailoring classes at the center on her visit to Gambia, West Africa this summer.

The Micro-Grants (up to $500 each) will be awarded based on public voting, which begins on November 20th at the Project Good Website. Worldgoods will be promoting the grant, as it is an important step toward sustainable development in a country that has been overlooked and underrepresented in the Fair Trade industry. Worldgoods Fair Trade is the first U.S. Co-op America member and FTF applicant to represent four artisan groups from this West African country.

Please check our website on November 20th for voting instructions and show Allison and the 69 women of Njau that you support them!

Gambian Peace Corps Volunteer Applies for Micro-Grant

2007-11-06T10:18:00.001-06:00

Gambian Peace Corps Volunteer Applies for Micro-Grant

2007-11-06T10:18:00.000-06:00

10 Ways Easy to "Green" Your Life

2007-10-15T11:54:00.001-05:00

As part of Blog Action Day, Baptiste and I are publishing 10 ways in which we, as busy parents on a limited budget, have been able to become "greener" as a family. In fact, some of the ways have actually saved us money! We invite you to post your advice and easy ways for making your life more simple or green.

1) No more paper toweling. If it's there, we'll use it. If it's not, the spill still gets cleaned up!

2) Don't wrap gifts. Or, save all the gift bags you get and reuse them. It's really easy to make recycled bows from a variety of paper in your house, or even to take shredded junk mail and use it as stuffing in a gift that you mail to someone else!

3) Switch to a biodegradable dish soap. In fact, if each US household only replaced one bottle of regular dish soap with an eco-friendly one, like Seventh Generation, we'll save over 81,000 barrels of oil this year. It's a small purchase that makes a big difference!

4) Have a garden. Any kind - we prefer growing our own veggies, but you could plant flowers or diversify your yard by planting anything that attracts more species to your yard. AND don't forget to collect rain water to water the garden instead of running a hose.

5) Wash your laundry in Cold Water! (and, when the weather is nice, dry them outside). It'll save you money, too.

6) Bring your own bag. Whether it's reusing plastic bags you've already amassed in the past or bringing a fair trade or cloth bag or basket with you, try to keep some in each car that you have so you're always prepared to say "neither" when they ask you if you want paper or plastic at the store.

7) Put a sticker on each light switch in the house that reminds you (or your kids or your spouse) to turn off the lights! Not only will it save you money, but using less electricity will help the environment.

8) Replace soft light bulbs with energy saving flourescent bulbs.

9) Don't let the water run while you (or your kids) brush your teeth!

10) Buy local, organic food or fair trade products when possible! You'll find that the benefits to the environment are clear when you support local businesses and produce, as well as organic and fair trade.

Do you or your family have an eco-friendly tip to share? POST IT HERE!

October is Fair Trade Month, Win a Trip to Peru!

2007-10-01T08:55:00.000-05:00

Even though we all do our best to buy locally, there are always products that we just won't be able to find at the local farm. Sugar, rice, vanilla, coffee, and many other foods that we love are grown in distant locales, making it difficult to determine how sustainably they are produced. The USDA Organic label is useful for finding pesticide and hormone-free foods, but it doesn't tell us about the way that farm workers were treated or how farmers were payed in order to produce our food. Likewise for clothing, crafts, and other handmade items.

Thankfully, there is a Fair Trade label and Worldgoods Fair Trade to help us learn a little bit more about where our purchases comes from, how sustainable they are, and ensure that we're not adding to global problems of hunger and poverty. Finding the Fair Trade Certified label on a package means that the people who are growing your coffee, chocolate, sugar, rice and other delicious goods are receiving fair compensation for their hard work. Or, shopping through a Fair Trade store who is a member of Co-op America, the Fair Trade Federation, or IFAT, for example, means you can purchase with confidence.

When you purchase Fair Trade products, you know that farmers and artisans are fairly paid and that the communities they work in are thriving. So look for Fair Trade labels when you shop, and visit the Discover Fair Trade website to learn more about Fair Trade certification, and read stories about the great things farms are doing all over the world to improve workers' rights. Read more here.

PLUS - this month, TransFairUSA is hosting a video contest, and you could win a trip to Peru just by showing how much you care! Visit the contest home page now to educate yourself on Fair Trade and be a part of this community of supporters. We welcome your comments to this blog - tell us how you, as mothers, students, fathers, sisters, brothers, and business owners are supporting Fair Trade this month!

Check out this link for Fair Trade Month!
TransFairUSA Consumer Fair Trade Info

Worldgoods Blog Joins Worldwide Action for the Environment

2007-09-27T22:04:00.001-05:00

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

Blog Action Day is about MASS participation. Worldgoods has joined over 6,000 bloggers with an audience of over 4,000,000 readers to discuss environmental issues.

Miranda & Baptiste, Worldgoods owners, plan to release the "10 simplest things a family can do" to help conserve resources. They will also be posting some findings from Notre Dame Academy high school students, who are on a mission to find out what's really in the things they buy, and trace the path from field to store shelf. This project is part of a social justice class where students are investigating the path of international trade and learning about where the products they buy actually come from, as well as how much the maker or farmer actually earns.

You can join Blog Action Day by donating, registering your blog, or promoting the event on The Blog Action Day Website.

Fundraiser to help Kenyan UWGB Student

2007-09-24T21:56:00.000-05:00

Benjamin Kibunja Mwai is a native of Kenya, East Africa, who is on a mission. By earning a degree in nursing, Ben hopes to bring his medicinal skills back to needy communities within his home country.

Worldgoods is offering the Green Bay community, as well as our online customers, a chance to help pay Ben's tuition at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay (UWGB). On Saturday, October 13th, we'll host a Spaghetti dinner (voluntary donation at door), a silent auction, and Worldgoods Fair Trade sale table, with proceeds going directly towards Ben's tuition and school expenses. The event will be held at St. Bernard Parish (2020 Hillside Lane, Green Bay, WI). For more information, or to volunteer, please call Lois Pulvermacher at 920-712-4526.

Tuition alone at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, a public school - is $6,766.08 per semester for full-time students.

Soon in our online store, you'll see "Baskets for Ben," where 15% of the proceeds will be donated for Ben, to provide our online customers with a chance to help this cause.

Thank you in advance for your support!