We’re going to kick off a new theme in September, and it’s sure to be a very fun one. Before that, here are all the green school posts from August in one nice little pile for you.

Lunches:
Green Your Child’s Lunch
Earth friendly lunch boxes
Simple Organic Cotton Lunch Bags
Waste-Free School Lunches
Metal Lunch Boxes
Avoid Vinyl Lunch Boxes

Supplies:
Tree Free Notebooks
Earth-friendly Pens & Pencils
Recycled & Sustainable Pencil Cases
PaperBackSwap — Send & Receive Used Books for School or Just Fun
Stubby Pencil Studio
Backpacks – Do you really need a new one?

Clothing:
Ultimate Organic Tees for Back to School
Green Tee Review: Mine Organics
Turn Old Sneakers into a Playground
Organic Cotton Socks and Hankies from Kasper Organics

College:
Green Dorm Shopping List
Eco Dorm Decor & Storage Ideas
Create A Green College Dorm
Green College Chats

Other Tips:
Past Tips for Greening Your School Experience
Just In Time for School: the We Can Change the World Challenge
Green Your Homeschooling & Unschooling Experience
School & Homeschool Eco-Slanted Field Trip Ideas
Quick Green School Tip: Green Fundraisers
LEED for Schools
One Small Step: Online School Newsletter
Eco Education Resource
Natural Help for Students with ADHD

Have you finished all your back to school shopping?

Image via flickr.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008

In case I haven’t let on yet, I’m very excited about the approaching arrival of autumn. I love everything about it, except that it ends with crazy Christmas shopping traffic. But, that’s a complaint for another time.

I wanted to share this Dried Flower Craft for fall from Linette at Mother Earth’s Garden.

If you have some dried flowers begging for the perfect festive display, this may be it. Please go over to read the full post for details on how to assemble this fun craft.

Then enjoy some apple cider and dream of the fall leaves!

Image via Linette Gerlach at Mother Earth’s Garden.

But not forever.

I’m moving over the next few days, so if you leave me a burning question or especially lusious comment, I won’t be able to get to it for a few days.

We’ve already got a great September planned, and I’ve pre-posted some cool stuff, so stick around anyway. Also, co-pilot Peggy will of course be around to chat with. Unless this move drives me mad, I’ll see you all in a few days.

Have a great September kick-off.

Kids outgrow athletic shoes quickly. If you’re looking for a new home for the worn shoes, consider the unique program below.

Nike accepts worn athletic shoes (no metal, cleats or damp shoes), and they turn them into Nike Grind, used to make sport surfaces like playground mats and basketball courts. The program is called Reuse-A-Shoe.

Interesting facts: It takes 75,000 pairs of athletic shoes to make a running track surface. An outdoor tennis court requires 2,500 pairs.

What to get in the mix?

You can search for a drop-off location near you, or mail your shoes to

Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(Nike doesn’t accept postage-due packages.)

How do you recycle worn tennis shoes?

Image via flickr.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008

This is one easy to make a homemade air freshener if you happen to have a wood-stove. You can use an oven to make it, but that’s not the best use of energy. Benefits – great scent and no toxic chemicals like commercial air fresheners.This is a nice one for crisps autumn days (which yes, are coming soon).

This is a super easy recipe too:

• Core a large Roma Apple – not all the way through the bottom though; leave a layer of skin intact.
• Peel a ring of skin away from the apple around the hole at the top of the apple.
• Place apple in a non-break baking dish.
• Fill hole in apple with brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon, or experiment with orange or other spices.
• Cover the apple with water; allow the water to seep into the hole and down the sides.
• Place dish on top of wood-stove or place in a fireplace over a grill. If you place this in an oven, (you can) I suggest doing it as you’re cooking other items, it shouldn’t affect food flavor, but it will release a great scent.

Also read:

• Ditch the Air Fresheners
• Natural Air Fresheners
• Pennyroyal, Cinnamon, & Lavender Air Freshener
• 25 Safe, Non-toxic, Homemade Cleaning Supplies

[image via stock.xchng]

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008

Great Cormorant

by Florian Möllers – www.wild-wonders.com

Handsome fella, eh? Wild Wonders of Europe is going to be a big, wild show. Many talented nature photographers are capturing inspiring images of Europe’s wild animals. To get a taste of what’s to come, visit the Gallery and read the Wild Wonders of Europe blog to hear about all the adventures the nature photographers are having right now.

What’s the point? Their mission is “To reveal the amazing natural heritage of Europe and to inspire a desire to save it.” What better way to do that than with amazing photos.

The initiative includes more than 50 nature photographers on 90 assignments in 44 countries. So, expect some great photos in the future.

Read more at Wild Wonders of Europe.

Photo: Florian Möllers – www.wild-wonders.com

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008

Remind those who pass by your abode what a beautiful planet we inhabit.

Progressive Kid offers this Earth Flag made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Two sizes available.

Have you ever thought of hanging an Earth flag?

Flag image via Progressive Kid.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008

If you’re looking for greener school supplies with a splash of fun visit Stubby Pencil Studio. They offer plenty of eco-friendly supplies such as…

Eco-friendly shape pencils:

A huge variety of recycled sketchbooks – I like this design below:

Smencil – Gourmet scented pencils made from 100% recycled newspaper.

See more supplies…
Read more

I rarely eat caramel, but I always enjoy at least one caramel apple around this time of year. And it’s nearly always an impulse buy at the grocery store.

This year, I’m hoping to think ahead and actually make my own caramel apples, avoiding the plastic wrappings of grocery store goods. Plus, I’ll be able to pick my own apples, and choose organic! When I buy caramel apples already made, a little part of me wonders if the apple is really good under all that gooey stuff. Was it even washed?

Linette at She Knows Parties is offering up her favorite caramel apple recipe: Harvest Party Treat – Caramel Apples.

What’s your favorite fall treat?

Image via flickr.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008

Many schools are going online and paper-free with their newsletters. Has yours?

Sure, this idea may encounter some resistance. No every household has a computer, and schools must be sensitive to that. However, parents may be given the option to have an online newsletter printed out and sent to them.

Advantages of online school newsletters:

• Saves paper and money

• Faster than printing

• Effortless distribution once email addresses are collected

• Makes sharing of information easier. (Parents may simply forward a relevant newsletter to family and friends.)

• Teaches children a lesson in reducing waste

One resource worth exploring for online school newsletters is School-newsletter.com.

How does your school handle its newsletter?

Image via stock.xchng.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008