Living Green in Richmond

The green movement is sweeping Richmond, and the rest of the globe.

Groups everywhere are promoting environmental awareness and you don’t have to consider yourself an environmentalist to be a part of the movement.

Here’s a list to get you started living green in Richmond. You may even learn that some of your haunts and habits are already eco-approved.

BRING YOUR OWN GROCERY BAGS
Most Grocery stores, including Ellwood Thompson’s, Kroger and Ukrops, sell reusable grocery bags. If you don’t want to buy their bags, bring your own. Say no to plastic bags.

BUY USED
One way to decrease your environmental impact is to decrease the number of new items you purchase. Consider buying from consignment and thrift stores instead. Here are some that Richmond has to offer:

Used Clothes and other items:

Goodwill

Second Debut by Goodwill

Fan Tastic Thrift

Diversity Thrift

Exile

Salvation Army

Consignment stores:

Plato’s Closet

The Hall Tree

Consignment Connections

Ciao

Clementine

Goodstuff Consignments

BUY LOCAL FOODS
Buying local foods saves gas (overall transportation costs) while supporting the local economy. Local food, particularly from farmer’s markets, is cheaper and fresher, not to mention good for you.

Ellwood Thompson’s

17th Street Farmer’s Market

Market Emporium at Bryan Park, Lakeside Ave. and 195, exit 80, Tuesday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., May – December

The Market Umbrella at Crossroads, Environmentally Controlled Room in
Crossroads Art Center, 2016 Staples Mill Road, Thursday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Year Round

South of the James Market, Forest Hill Park, Forest Hill Avenue & 42nd St., Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., May – December

The Byrd House Market, Every Tuesday, 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. located off S. Linden St. & Idlewood Avenue

Market Umbrella First Fridays, Quirk Gallery, 311 W Broad St., Friday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Year Round

SHOPPING
Fair Trade products promote environmental responsibility while also ensuring producers receive a fair price for their goods. The fair trade industry focuses on products exported from developing countries, and many products are made with recycled material.

Here are some local places to find fair trade goods:

AlterNatives, 3320 W. Cary St., 804-342-5886

Ten Thousand Villages

The Green Alcove, 5807 Patterson Ave., 804-304-7600

Here are some local places to find fair trade coffee:

Carytown Teas

Ellwood coffee

Globehopper Coffee

Crossroads Coffee and Ice Cream

Rostovs Coffee and Tea

SKIP THE WATER BOTTLES
Another great way to make your environmental footprint smaller is to stop buying plastic-bottled water. For the home, consider a water filtration system.

CLEANING
Green cleaning products are available at most major supermarkets. You can also make your own cleaning solution using household items. All you need is baking soda, vinegar, soap, lemon and cornstarch.

If you would rather get someone else to clean your house, try the Green Earth Cleaning Crew.

HOME REPAIRS AND BUILDING
If you’re in the market to make some improvement in your home, make it eco-friendly. These places offer stylish green building products:

ECO Supply Center

Eco Logic

Tuff Seal interlocking floor tiles

RECYCLE
Check out the Central Virginia Waste Management Agency and find out how to start recycling in your Richmond-area neighborhood. You’ll be surprised how much you can recycle, including CDs, cars, paint, sporting goods and clothes.

You can also recycle your electronics at Com-Cycle Virginia.