FARM SANCTUARY

I can honestly tell you that reading Jonathan Safran-Foers book Eating Animals, changed my life. I've been a vegetarian for 35 years and, after reading this book I'm now a vegan. I feel an overwhelming need to take some action, as a result GG2G has a new and passionate mission -- that is to help the folks at Farm Sanctuary do what they do best -- work to end cruelty to farm animals and promote compassionate living through rescue, education and advocacy. They envision a world where the violence that animal agriculture inflicts upon people, animals and the environment has ended, and where instead we exercise values of compassion.

We feel so strongly about what they are doing that we are donating a 15% of the proceeds from the sale of our new GG2G Tees and a portion of sales from our new line called Salvo to Farm Sanctuary.

The design for the tees were a collaborative effort between artists Day Moore and Ryan Cyr and come in many styles and colors check out www.shopgg2g.com for the complete line up.

You can also help Farm Sanctuary by donating directly.

IN the BAG - Art Exhibition

The Art and Politics of the Reusable Bag Movement.

GG2G is honored to be invited to participate in this innovative, educational and thought provoking art event. Curated by Liz Milwe and Peter Wormser, this exhibition will delve into the art and politics surrounding the reusable plastic bag movement. 30 years after the environmentally devastating results of our overuse of plastic bags communities across the U.S. along with 33 countries around the world have ban plastic bags. This exhibition will display powerful and creative responses to this overuse. Artists, designers and cooperatives work will be on view along with statistic to drive home the impact of this late 1970's "convenience" - The

plastic bag.

When - Opening Reception: Thursday Jan. 28th, 6 - 8

Where - The Nathan Cummings Foundation

This show runs from Jan. 28 - April 23.

Please click here for more details or if you would like to attend the opening reception, an RSVP is kindly requested.

Oprah Magazine, CoverGirl and Mary Ann

The Get In Touch Foundation Founder and Executive Director, Mary Ann Wasil Nilan, has won The Oprah Magazine CoverGirl Giving Beautiful Back Award. Mary Ann’s inspirational story of how she gives beautiful back to the community will appear in the February 2010 issue of O Magazine. Way to go Mary Ann! Mary Ann is one of our neighbors and has worked diligently to bring her mission, which manifests itself in the form of The Get In Touch Foundation, is to encourage gals of all ages to “Get In Touch” with their bodies, information, and each other in our crusade against breast cancer. CONGRATULATIONS MARY ANN!!!!!!!!!!!

Holiday Shopping with a Purpose

You can find something for everyone this holiday season and feel good about giving -two fold.

Many of your favorite causes now offer much more than mugs and calendars emblazened with their logos. So take a moment to look over those wish lists to see if you can find those kind of gifts while giving to your or your recipient's cause. Here are a just a few that we love:

Born Free USA -  United with the Animal Protection Institute

Get in Touch Foundation - for the prevention and early detection of breast cancer

PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

The Human Society

And, what to give that someone who has everything, two words Hieffer International - Hieffer is working to end world hunger and poverty globally. It's the whole teach a man to fish philosophy at it's best and a gift that keeps giving. Be the first on your block to gift a water buffalo. We know that your a trendsetter, time to show the rest of the world.

Get in Touch Girl!

Mary Ann Wasil Nilan, executive director, founder, cancer kickin' survivor and health activist as well as one of our neighbors here in Milford started the Get In Touch Foundation after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her foundation encourages gals of all ages to “Get In Touch” with their bodies, information, and each other in a crusade against breast cancer. Mary Ann developed a fun ‘Daisy Wheel’, that explains the importance of breast self-examination and facts about breast cancer. She has also worked tirelessly to convince health educators nationwide the importance of "starting early". Mary Ann developed a program whereby health educations give out the ‘Daisy Wheel’, when girls are in grades 5-12 during health and hygiene classes.

October is national breast cancer awareness month and we wanted to give a well deserved shout-out to Mary Ann for all of her hard work and efforts on all of our behalves.

If you would like to donate to the Get In Touch Foundation click here

LOCAL PROUD

Buy local, buy local, buy local, at GG2G it's our mantra...and now you can get involved in Milford's own Local Proud campaign too! Check out the website, there are loads of good stats about what buying local means to the environment and to the community. Whether you are in Milford, CT or Macon, GA your can give back to your community simply by buying local. Everything from produce to platform shoes, if it's made or sold locally (in an independently owned store), it can make a difference Did you know that:

Studies show that dollars spent locally tend to stay local; local businesses contribute more to local non-profits and participate more in community life; and local independents demand less energy resources and public infrastructure.  A thriving local economy creates more opportunities for entrepreneurs and builds community economic strength for everyone. 

And that's just one of many statistics you'll find when you go to Milford Local Proud dot Com

MOD GREEN POD

How many times have you said to yourself and your BFF's "Why, oh, why does organic fabric have to be so blahhhhh?" It was, of course, rhetorical at that point but not so now -- Mod Green Pod has taken that oatmeal floating in a sea of beige and turned it on it's boring little head. Above are just some of the gorgeous fabrics that await you (and now wallpaper too). Their 100% organic cotton home textiles and wallpapers are US-made and follow Global Organic Textile Standards to help create a healthy home.

They also have a really groovy Room Creator page so that you can get a sense of scale before you purchase.

Changing the Shape of Modern Surfing

thomas meyerhoffer: changing the shape of modern surfing
since 2004 thomas meyerhoffer has been developing a new kind of surfboard which is now considered by some as the most radical leap in surfboard design in the last 50 years. the 'meyerhoffer' board is shaped like an hourglass to emphasize noseriding and tailriding for recreational surfers. it is supposed to be a longboard that rides like quicker more manoeuvrable shortboard. 
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3.5 Billion Wire Hangers Go into U.S. Landfills Each Year

We don't have to tell you how terrible dry cleaning is for the environment, right?
All of you savvy greenies out there ONLY use green dry cleaners, of that we are sure.
But we digress, we want to talk to you about those pesky, ever-tangled wire hangers that you get with every shirt, skirt and pair of pants. 35 Billion wire hangers are tossed into the landfill every year! Where they just sit...and sit. Did you know that it takes 40 inches of wire to make one hanger? Just one year's worth could wrap around the earth 88 times! Aghhhhh!
Good news! There are a number of very non-painful ways to get around this.
Here we go, starting with the simplest.
1) Every time you pick-up from your favorite green dry cleaner drop off the ones from the previous pick up. They will love you for it!
2) Have your clothing pressed and folded.
3) Insist that your already green dry cleaner get with the program and use eco-friendly hangers

Here's a list of the ones we like best:
EcoHangers
Bamboo Hangers
Green Hanger

Now...what to do about that plastic they wrap everything in...

DIRTY DOZEN

At GG2G we are all so excited about the bounty of summer. So we thought that this might be an apropos time to talk about the Dirty Dozen. The 12 most contaminated fruits and veggies - we are talking about non-organic here folks. Take a look and then buy organic versions. Because we subscribe to the "glass is half full philosophy" there is a list of the top 12 safest non-organic fruits and veggies at the end. Bon Appetite!

THE MOST CONTAMINATED FRUITS & VEGETABLES:

1.PEACHES: Over 94% tested positive for traces of 45 different pesticides.

2.CELERY 94% tested positive for 29 different pesticides.

3.APPLES: 92% tested positive for 36 pesticides.

4..SWEET BELL PEPPERS: 68% tested positive for 39 different pesticides.

5.CHERRIES: 91% tested positive for 25 different pesticides.

6.IMPORTED GRAPES: 86% tested positive for 35 different pesticides.

7.NECTARINES: 97% tested positive for 26 different pesticides.

8.PEARS : 94% tested positive for 35 different pesticides.

9.POTATOES: 79% tested positive for 29 different pesticides.

10.RASPBERRIES: 59% tested positive for 39 different pesticides.

11.SPINACH: 83% tested positive for 36 different pesticides.

12.STRAWBERRIES: 90% tested positive for 36 different pesticides.

THE LEAST CONTAMINATED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES:

1.ASPARAGUS

2.AVOCADOS

3.BANANAS

4.BROCOLLI

5.CAULIFLOWER

6.SWEET CORN

7.KIWI

8.MANGOES

9.ONIONS

10.PAPAYAS

11.PINEAPPLES

12.SWEET PEAS