Visiting friends on a long weekend in Chester District between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios in Jamaica in early February brought me a heightened awareness of how inefficient my household routines are.

In Jamaica, my friend lives with eight other family members in a small home situated on a sunny hilltop surrounded by fruit and nut trees and flanked by other small homes populated with extended family. The children, too young to go to school (which begins at age 3), are watched by whichever family member is off of work, or unemployed at the time. Jobs are hard to come by, and often require long hours and six to seven day work weeks. Typical income for working adults in her home is about 55 US dollars per week. Food prices, however, are comparable to prices here at home.

To combat these prices, much of the food is grown on their property. They have a beautiful almond tree, breadfruit trees, abundant coconuts, bananas, and other sustainably farmed fruits and vegetables. Some of her brothers bring fresh fish home a few times a week which they eat immediately or salt for future use. There is very little food wasted. But what is determined as “scrap” is put on a small pile outside of their kitchen door for their two dogs to enjoy. The dogs, who have no names, and aren’t ever let into the home, benefit from the food and shelter (outside of the house) provided by the family. In return, they help dispose of scraps and alert the family of visitors approaching.

Freshwater is efficiently captured in large rooftop containers, and occasionally replenished with buckets and trips to the nearby stream to supply household needs via gravity.

They use the natural Caribbean breeze to cool their home opening all doors and windows during the day and close things up at night to guard against insects and other pests. Very little is wasted and they seem to want for very little.

When I think about my heating costs, cooling costs, food waste, my beloved dog (who has her own bed in my bedroom), and my struggles to grow a few good tomatoes each year, I feel like I have much to learn.

So long as I continue to try, however, my Jamaican friends assure me there will be “No problem!”

Betterworldbuys.com is transitioning to a new systems approach in the operations of our business. The systems approach is being taken to assure that as a company, we are focused not just on sales or profits, but on our interconnectedness with our stakeholders and our planet.

As a quick primer, to the science of systems thinking, I give you the late Donella H. Meadows explanation of systems thinking via her Slinky example:

“A Slinky is a toy—a long, loose spring that can be made to bounce up and down, or pour back and forth from hand to hand, or walk itself downstairs.

I perch the slinky on one upturned palm. With the fingers of the other hand, I grasp it from the top, partway down its coils. Then I pull the bottom hand away. The lower end of the slinky drops, bounces back up again, yo-yo’s up and down, suspended from my fingers above.

“What made the slinky bounce up and down like that?” I ask students.

“Your hand. You took away your hand,” they say.

So I pick up the box the slinky came in and hold it the same way, poised on a flattened palm, held from above by the fingers of the other hand. With as much dramatic flourish as I can muster, I pull the lower hand away.

Nothing happens. The box just hangs there, of course.

“Now once again. What made the Slinky bounce up and down?”

The answer clearly lies within the Slinky itself. The hands that manipulate it suppress or release some behavior that is latent within the structure of the spring.

That is the central insight of systems thinking” (Meadows, 2008, p.1).

The betterworldbuys.com transition to a systems approach will be transparent to our clients. Within our organization, however, we will focus on concepts of personal mastery, understanding our mental models and how they influence our perceptions of the world, building a shared vision, learning as a team, and systems thinking to enable us to see the impacts of our actions on our stakeholders.

We aspire to use this new approach to more effectively promote self-awareness and environmental and social consciousness through responsible consumerism.

For more information on systems thinking and the benefits of an organizational systems approach, you can refer to Meadows text referenced below or to these online resources: Creative Learning Exchange at www.clexchange.org, The Systems Thinker and Leverage Points newsletters published by www.pegasuscom.com.

Meadows, D. H. (2008) Thinking in systems: A primer. White River Junction:
Chelsea Green Publishing.

I traveled to the other side of the globe two years ago and met a man.

My travels took me through the rainforests of Peru, on to Cusco and from the Sacred Valley to Aqua Calientes and the majesties of Machu Picchu. The man I met had a similar itinerary, and our paths crossed oddly at several destinations.

I recall being struck by the abject poverty that many of the people in the towns we visited lived in. This man seemed oblivious to the plight of the people there, and talked incessantly (in the churches) of how the Wall Street Journal was his Bible and the stock exchange his God. He insulted teachers, who work in a profession I strongly admire, multiple times during the first ten minutes after we were introduced and was generally dismissive of women. My typically high tolerance level was severely tested.

Just when I’d begun to think Peru might not be large enough for me and this man, I learned that he lived and worked in the same town I call home. As Bogart said, “Of all the gin joints in all the world…” Not only did he have the same small town as his home address, but he boasted (often and loudly) of his very successful business there.

As I work to review all the wonderful thoughts and ideas presented at the most recent Board of Directors meeting of betterworldbuys.com, I’m challenged to reconsider my personal definition of success. When I do this, I’m reminded of that man whose definition I want to stay so far from. Unknowingly, he has helped me to become increasingly aware of the fact that I must share my home, and that we all must share our planet, with people of vastly differing backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and belief systems. In addition, we share it with a multitude of other living beings, with whom we need to coexist in order for the ultimate survival of our species.

Doing our part to educate consumers on the impact of their responsible purchasing decisions, and providing conscious alternatives to typical products so we may promote this peaceful coexistence in a sustainable fashion is my definition of success for betterworldbuys.com.

How do you define success?

Water bottles, the annoying plastic vessels that seem to be invading our world have got my attention.
On vacation in Orlando a few weeks ago, I became increasingly frustrated at the lack of recycling options provided in our resort. With nowhere to recycle the 15 or so bottles that we had accumulated between the airport and our first day at the resort, I brought them with me to the home of a close friend who’d invited us for dinner on New Year’s Eve. I was dismayed to learn that neither my friend nor our resort participated in any type of recycling programs.

Thankfully, I’d brought a few aluminum bottles which we put to good use for the duration of our trip.
This difficulty led me to recall some of the photos I’d taken during previous travels when I became equally frustrated with this pesky plastic packaging that contained such a vital fluid. I’ve seen the impact of the bottles of water choking the irrigation channels outside of Cairo, to the beaches of Ventura, California. I’ve been disgusted at the trash and floating bottles in the fountains of Madrid, and on the streets of New Orleans. There seems little left untouched by this bothersome bottle blight.

Considering the situation, I am thrilled to announce our partnership with rethread, a graphic design firm with a mission. Their creative and stylish designs have a message worthy of wearing!

Enough said?

Shortly before Thanksgiving, I was involved in my first automobile accident. I was merging, didn’t see another vehicle speed up into my blind spot, and ended up in a series of 360° rotations.

My mind whirled as my car spun. What would my children do if I didn’t make it? Was anyone else hurt? Would my car explode? Why wasn’t pumping the brakes like dad taught me working? I hope that truck has enough time to slow down. How will my colleagues waiting for me at work know what happened?

It ended with a horrific jarring, which slammed me back into the guard rail. I snatched my cell and purse from the floor, and scrambled out of the vehicle to take stock of the situation.

That is when the tears began.

I was alive. I was in one piece, and the two other cars involved were undamaged with their drivers appearing fine, running back and forth between their cars, and on their cell phones calling for help.

Beyond the damage to my vehicle, and some back and neck pain, all parties involved walked away unscathed. For this, I felt blessed and extremely grateful.

* * * *

As I reflect on how fortunate I was to have made it through the incident relatively unscathed, I can’t help but be joyous for life and for all the wonderful and caring people in my life.

I include this in my blog post; because the experience has made me all the more conscious of the major impact that even our smallest actions can have on ourselves and those around us.

As we go through our commute, and our lives in fast-forward; especially around this holiday season, I ask that we take the time to live meaningful lives; conscious of the impact not only of our purchasing decisions, but of all the small actions we take each day.

Happy Holidays!

I’ll admit it. Though I have real human children, I often tell people that my dog Ella was my first born. For the birth announcement of my first real child, I dressed my 85 pound boxer (pictured above)in a big doggie diaper and included her photo on the note to friends and family sharing the news of the new addition. Ella has her own special bed with egg crate padding, more toys than I can keep track of, and is often fought over by the grandparents when determining who will get to keep the “grand-dogger” while we travel.

When she was just a puppy, we found that poor Ella had some serious allergies causing her to require very special (and expensive!) food, treats, toys and bath products. Through the years she has gone through various phases of likes and dislikes with the few things that she can tolerate without adverse reaction. We of course, obliged by indulging her whims.

It seems that my plight with my beloved Ella is not unique. Based on similar issues with her beloved pooch “Ruger”, Tonda Woodling developed dog treats with canine allergies in mind.

Tonda, in collaboration with my favorite local chef (Michael Falcone of The Funky Lil’ Kitchen in Pottstown, PA) created a line of dog treats out of healthy ingredients that are 100% natural and human grade. These treats are grain free and hand baked in a health board regulated kitchen!

All ingredients used in these yummy treats are carefully selected based upon their hypoallergenic nature, natural attributes and flavors. For even the most allergy sensitive of dogs, these treats contain no gluten, no corn, wheat or soy, no meat or dairy, no added salt or sugar, no artificial colors or flavors, and no preservatives. The treats come in two varieties: peanut butter oatmeal, and toasted coconut. In addition, they are sold in recycled and reusable steel tins and biodegradable/compostable refill bags. They get the betterworldbuys.com paw print of approval for planetary positive pet products and are something worth barking about!

Do you have a pampered pooch with allergies you’d like to tell us about? Try out our hungry puppy treats and share your comments and ideas on how to help our allergy prone furry friends.
As Tonda says, “Lets face it, our dogs are not only our best friends, they are part of our family and they deserve the best!”

According to a recent article in Elle, “Natural and organic makeup is not just for vegans and those with sensitive skin anymore. The next generation of products is perfect for women who don’t want to sacrifice luxury.” Fed up with my existing skin care regimen (the wrinkles resulting from a lack thereof), and thinking that my skin deserved some luxury, my colleague Mollie and I went in search of a quality skin, hair and cosmetic supplier that we would feel good offering to you, our readers and clients.

After weeks (and I mean weeks!), of sifting through false claims, shabby products, and a few possible options, we found the perfect products and are excited to share them. Our new line is produced by Shear Miracles, and is simple, natural, refreshing and rejuvenating!

Made in small batches to ensure freshness and potency, this new line is made with all organic and wild crafted ingredients, using no artificial colors, preservatives, synthetic chemicals or solvents. In addition, these products are not tested on animals. Mollie and I sampled many of the products, and are now so pleased with their results we are switching over from our previous routines. Our personal favorites are the Reality Check Anti Aging Organic Cleanser and Moisturizer and the body butters.

In addition, my dog Ella was thrilled with her this week bath using the Healthy Paws Flea & Tick Shampoo that left her flea free and smelling fresh and clean! Ella has very sensitive skin and several allergies so I’m happy to report she did very well with the healthy Paws formula and didn’t have the dry flaking skin issue that normally follows her monthly scrub down.

In keeping with some guidelines in the New York Times Best Seller “The Green Book” by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen, this new line is made, “from oils made from the seeds of fruits and nuts instead of from the refinement of petroleum” (Rogers & Kostigen, 2007). Our new lipstick is made “from plant derived ingredients” and the mascara is also in keeping with The Green Book’s recommendation that it be “made from plants and minerals instead of from petroleum products” (Rogers & Kostigen, 2007).

Even though the leaves are falling, our new line of environmentally responsible skin, hair and cosmetics are in full bloom. We know it is often difficult to try new things, but we’re so sure you’ll love this new line that we’re offering 10% off of any of these new items in the Planetary Pampering section for Her, Him, Baby or Pet from now until November 30. Try these new products and consider stocking up at these introductory prices for holiday gift giving. Type in the coupon code “2Indulge” when checking out to receive these great products at our introductory rate of 10% off regular prices.

Are there any special skin care tips that you would like to share for him, her, baby or pets? If so, please comment on our blog and share your thoughts and insight on the topic.

October 24, the International Day of Climate Action, has come and gone but the efforts by so many concerned citizens of the world were seen and heard! “Bring our CO2 levels back to 350ppm (from 387ppm) to mitigate or global warming crisis!!” we pleaded. 350.org helped facilitate some amazing events around the world, and I heard great feedback from participants including friends from as far away as India and as close as Denver, Colorado.

The 350.org group summarized the situation and the urgency surrounding it on their web site by stating:

“A year ago, our greatest climatologist—NASA’s James Hansen—and his team produced a landmark series of studies. They showed that if we let the amount of carbon in the atmosphere top 350 parts per million, we can’t have a planet “similar to the one on which civilization developed and to which life on earth is adapted.”

The bad news is we’re already past that number—we’re at 390 parts per million, which is why the Arctic is melting, why drought is spreading across the planet, why people are already dying from diseases like dengue fever and malaria occurring in places where they’ve never been seen before.

The good news: that number gives us a target to aim for. When the world’s leaders meet in Copenhagen in December to reach agreement on a new climate treaty, we need them to go farther than they’ve planned to go: we need to make sure they’ll pay attention to the latest science and put forward a plan that gets us back to safety.”

If you want to get involved, there is still time. My top 3 favorite things you can do today to help mitigate this crisis include:

1. Learn more about climate change. There are some wonderful resources on the web. Also consider the PBS NOW special which aired this week on Bangladesh where, “Scientists’ project global seas will flood 20 percent of Bangladesh by 2030, stranding some 35 million climate refugees.” Another great resource is the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.
2. Talk about it. I’m always amazed at how many people don’t believe the science behind this situation.

3. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint. For some guidelines on how to reduce your footprint starting now, check out this earth911 blog.
What ideas do you have to help prevent climate change? Please let us know by sharing your thoughts and adding your comments!

In the beginning of the summer, I began an experiment to determine if I could afford to pass on the new Prius. In my heart of hearts, I wanted for my experiment to be a failure so I could somehow justify the expense of a lovely silver 2010 model with all the bells and whistles.

Alas, it was not to be.

In an effort to make an environmentally and socially conscious decision, I needed to become more aware of the impact of my choice. I spent the summer dedicated to driving less, and increasing my fuel economy when driving was a necessity. As a result of my efforts, I’ve increased my mpg average by approximately 2.

I began in early June with an average mpg rating of 24.0 and by July was up to 25.9 mpg. Presently I’m able to maintain 26.0 mpg when I’m diligent about slower acceleration, proper tire inflation, and the appropriate time to coast. Beyond mpg, however, I have learned more about the ecological footprint made through the resource consumption required to create a new vehicle and have determined that the fuel, and fuel related financial impact over the next 4-6 years is minimal compared to the footprint of a new vehicle construction (and old vehicle destruction).

And so, (insert a heavy sigh), I’m passing on the Prius…for now.

When we launched betterworldbuys.com on Earth Day last Spring, our intent was to assure the products offered on our site were all third party certified. This was done to add a level of trust that the products were verified as being somehow socially or environmentally responsible independently of our organization. What we learned in attempting to select vendors with products that were third party certified, is that certifications are not the end all be all preventative measure to help you, our clients avoid Greenwashing.

As the Life Cycle Analysis of some potential products offered by vendors we were considering partnering with was conducted, we discovered that although they might hold one certification or another, there were some dirty little secrets in supply chains that we weren’t comfortable ignoring in offering to you, our valued clients. Needless to say, we did not choose to pursue relationships with these vendors. We have instead, however, begun to re-evaluate how we select products offered to you on the betterworldbuys.com site.

We are now considering factors such as how energy intensive products are to produce, the labor conditions in their production environment, the raw materials required, the disposability of the product, and many other factors. As we refine these considerations, we will continue to update you on the status of what we are calling our “living list” of product considerations – so named as it continues to grow and develop.

Our commitment to being the most recognized and respected source of trustworthy environmental and socially responsible products and services on the planet stands, and we look forward to offering more exciting and truly “green” products very shortly.

As Daniel Goleman writes in his book “Ecological Intelligence”, “green labels…may do harm as well as good; they lull us into the illusion that we are doing enough while ignoring the remaining adverse impacts of what we buy and do” (Goleman, 2009).