5 Minutes for Going Green is growing, and growing, and growing.

We are currently looking for dedicated, passionate, eco-savvy writers to become part of our green writing team.

Excited about going green and how simple it can be? Embarking on a new green journey at home or at work? Raising a green family of your own and wanting to network and share some of your own trials and tribulations? Desiring to dig deeper into the world of conservation, environmental activism, and daily green living? Not a proverbial eco-nut yourself (yet), but just feel like writing outside of your comfort zone?

Well then! You sound rather awesome, and this could be a match made in green heaven, and no, I'm not hitting on you, I promise.

We are currently looking to fill both regular contributor (posting weekly or every two weeks) and monthly guest posting positions.

While all gigs are unpaid at this juncture, there will indeed be perks, not the least of which will be adding your voice to the chorus of those doing their part to green their lives from the inside out this year.

Interested? Great!

Send me an email at 5minutesforgoinggreen@gmail.com.

In your email please include a little diddy about yourself and why you'd like to write for the site, and a link to your personal website, if you have one, so I can get an idea of what you write on a day-to-day basis.

Not a blogger? That works, too! Just email me your personal bio and two writing samples (on green issues, if you have them, though that's not a requirement).

Not your cup of tea? Feel free to send this opportunity along to anyone you think might be interested!

Happy! Wednesday, all.

As we make strides to green our home and our lifestyle, we wanted to share our enthusiasm with the preschool where we send our two sons.

After noticing that the school did not have any recycling bins and the amount of paper scraps in the trash at the end of each session, I started thinking about how to reduce the waste and teach the kids about recycling.

Thankfully the head mistress and teachers have welcomed my suggestions about adding recycling bins in the classes. By allowing me to start with my sons' classes and the office, it will quickly demonstrate how easy it is while providing an opportunity for the kids to learn about conservation. What better lesson that understanding how our actions impact the environment?

Here are a couple simple ways you can impact your child's classroom with some new school thinking:

• Add recycling bins in the classroom like we have. If expense is an issue, the kids can even make a bin to get more involved. Since Chicago doesn't have a city wide recycling program yet, I have agreed to pick up the recycling each week and shuttle it to the Nature Museum drop-off where we take our own recycling.
• Provide a bin for the recycling in the staff lounge and office areas. You know how it is: once you add  a bin and you begin to see how much waste is produced you work harder at conserving. It's contagious!
• Encourage the students to come up with creative ways to reuse supplies and give out awards for the classroom that reduced the most waste.
• If your school has the space, add a compost bin for the classroom and host a workshop. Once you start this in one classroom you will be booked until the end of the year!
• If your school has space, add a rain barrel. For the older kids, this is a great way to bring science to real life. The kids can track the amount of rainfall, study evaporation, and then use the water for a special project or in the school's landscaped areas.
• Talk with other parents at your next school function, share ideas and see who is interested in working together on this mission. Once you have a couple people, the momentum will really build.
• Don't forget the custodial staff! Make sure you talk with them to discuss how the the new recycling program impacts their duties and ask for their input. Since they handle the majority of waste from the building, they will have special insight into ways to conserve.
• Become a leader and keep track of your school's improvements. Host a tour of the changes for Earth Day to get the whole school involved and continue the good work you started!

For me being green really means making a positive impact wherever you go and whatever you do. For our kids, bringing eco-friendly practices to their preschool means that we can feel proud that we shared something that is important to us with them. By starting any green program, it provides the entire school with an opportunity to grow in new ways while giving back to the local community and global environment.

An original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. Jen shares her journey going green and raising a family as The Eco Chic Organizer.

The perfect size for a notepad to carry in your backpack, purse or back pocket, these recycled floppy disk notepads from It's Our Earth totally have me embracing my inner geek.

Made from a pair of recycled 3.5" floppy disks and filled with 80 sheets of 100% recycled acid free paper, the seller has listings for individual notepads or packs of three in various colors you can choose yourself.

Per the seller, as these are recycled floppy disks, some of them may include original labels or a hand written note made by previous owner as to the content on the disk. Bonus recycled authenticity!

An original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. Read more about all things Kerri Anne, including her renewed committment to green living and her affinity for talking in movie quotes at kerrianne.org.

Here are 5 posts from elsewhere that had us thinking this week, to help start your new year off a bit greener. Happy! 2009.

Monday CNN ran an article discussing the business and potential profit (both economically and for the planet) of sustainable farming and green industry. Here's an excerpt from the article, though the full length version is definitely worth a read:

But a complex mix of push and pull factors are making environmental business practices increasingly attractive to investors and with that, some say, providing fresh hope for a planet in trouble.

Not only are the emerging markets for alternative power booming — and corporate efficiency initiatives looking more attractive — as fossil fuel prices rise, but many companies are also increasingly aware that there are real costs associated with doing nothing.

Tuesday Miguelina posted a great list of her favorite Green Beauty Picks on BlogHer's Beauty Hacks. Do you have some of your own? Chime in!

Wednesday No Impact Man posted a thought provoking piece on individual vs. societal pressures and goals as they relate to career profession and daily life, and how doing what we love, what makes us happiest, might be best for all parties–and all parts of our planet–involved. One of my favorite excerpts from his post:

The question becomes, if our culture facilitated following our calling instead of following the dollars, might we all find that we were a lot more content with having less stuff? Might people and the planet both benefit?

On an individual level, does that suggest that if we want to live using fewer resources but still be happy the way to do it is to pursue our passions instead of our paychecks?

Just a thought.

Because it turns out that the question "How shall we live ecologically?" may just as easily shortened to simply "How shall we live?"

Thursday Tree Hugger published a great 2008 green year in review, with highlights from myriad green sites from across the web, featuring site genres from interior design to activism.

Friday Planet Green provided a concise explanation of bioplastics and the positive and negatives surrounding them.

Also: be sure to check out 2008's Best Green Twitter Feeds (via Switchboard), and Jetson Green's "must follow" list to make sure your personal Twitterverse is up to date with the latest in green news and reviews for the start of 2009.

An original 5 Minutes For Going Green weekly post, wherein we feature some of the most interesting stories and links from around the greenosphere, to help you keep abreast of the latest and greatest on the greener side of the internet. Have an article or link you'd like to see featured? Use our handy dandy contact form.

When entertaining for the holidays – or any occasion – consider using your regular dishes or reusable dishes bought to last through years of parties. We host large gatherings of friends a few times throughout the year, and always use our everyday plates and silverware. The aunt who hosts our huge family Christmas Eve meal has a special set of snowman-themed dishes that she breaks out each December 24^th. Nary a paper plate is wasted, and it's a very good (and green) feeling.

For cups, we do use plastic Solo party-ware, but our friends write their names on the cups with a Sharpie, and we wash them after each gathering and put them away to use next time. Another alternative is to buy a bunch of those sturdy white plastic printed cups that party stores sell to be given out as favors at kids' parties, and write recurring guests' names across the tops. When I was growing up, my aunts passed around a huge set of sturdy Mardi Gras souvenir cups that a cousin sent from New Orleans, each with a family member's name written neatly across the top in marker.

My Christmas Eve aunt sets out the glasses that match her snowman dishes, and some glass-marking devices she made by using small jewelry jump rings to attach various Christmas-themed charms to fat elastic ponytail holders. You can't write your name on her glasses with a Sharpie, but as long as you can remember that you're drinking out of the one with the green stocking charm on it, you're good to go.

Now, I won't deny that washing up after a party using real dishes is a pain. We hosted two gatherings of around 15 people this month, one on the 13^th and one on the 27^th. Since our automatic dishwasher is broken and my human one (a.k.a. my husband) suffered a legitimately severe but suspiciously timed cut finger the weekend before Christmas, I found myself doing a LOT of dishes by hand.

I'm not saying there weren't other, more enjoyable things I could've done with the time, but overall it was not a serious hassle. When I think of all the disposable party-ware we kept out of the landfill, my pruney fingers seem like a pretty fair tradeoff.

A few additional tips:

• Encourage your guests to carpool to the party

• Turn the thermostat down a few degrees. If you're doing any cooking or baking before the party, that will get the house warm and inviting, and once the place is full of people, it'll stay cozy!

• Make sure you have recycling bins ready and labeled for use to keep soda cans and beer and wine bottles out of the garbage. If you aren't sure your guests know to recycle, make a quick announcement before dinner.

• If the party is a present-exchanging affair, talk to everyone ahead of time about bringing small homemade or low-impact gifts. This year one friend made custom coasters for everyone, another brought a HUGE tub of homemade fudge and encouraged us all to take leftovers with us, and a third brought recycled coffee cans full of potting soil and seed packets. Two girls brought reusable shopping bags for everyone, and my husband and I always give each guest a homemade Christmas tree ornament. The gifts tend to be more memorable and meaningful since we've spent time planning and making or arranging them, and they're pleasantly Christmas green.

Have any of your own green party tips? Feel free to chime in!

Happy New Year!

An original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. On any other day you can find VelociBadgerGirl at Pardon the Egg Salad, where you will laugh, might possibly cry, and will definitely be amazed at her reading list.

Just in time for all of the post-holiday thank you cards you'll no doubt be sending, this week's Recycled Note O' The Week will help you say thank you in style while using handmade recycled materials, too.

Thank you notes with flowers of handmade paper, from PulpArt:

The listing is for 5 thank you notes in a pack, and in the set featured above the seller used "calendula flower petals, angle wings (a botanical from Thailand) as well as all different colors of recycled but high-quality junk mail."

A note from the seller on her process for making the handmade paper:

I make handmade paper the old-fashioned way, by combining recycled paper with water in a blender. I combine the pulp with inclusions in a vat and then run a mold and deckle through the water to pick up the pulp and form a piece of paper. Once the paper dries, I adhere it to heavy card stock to make the cards you see here. These whimsical cards have a stem made by stamping "thank you" multiple times with a rubber stamp. Each card is a standard greeting card size (5 x 7) with a matching (A7) envelope. Each card is blank inside, completely unique and is suitable for framing.

PulpArt is currently featuring three different designs of these lovely handmade thank you cards, and even better, offering free! shipping on all thank you card packs from January 5-January 15th.

I myself would be surprised if you don't see something specific you like in the shop, but if you don't, PulpArt takes custom orders, too.

Happy! thank you writing.

An original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. Read more about all things Kerri Anne, including her renewed committment to green living and her affinity for talking in movie quotes at kerrianne.org.

Undeniably one of my favorite things about the holiday season is the holiday cards.

Despite switching to YouTube to send our video holiday greetings, I still adore the old school holiday card sent via mail. Being the organizer that I am, I started to wonder how to display and then store the cards in a way that was space efficient, chic and functional.

What better than a wreath made of your holiday cards?

Involve the whole family and you'll have a fun and simple craft that will create a holiday keepsake to enjoy year after year. Create one per season or, like we did, one for the family and one for the kids comprised of cards from their favorite classmates. The wreath is a quintessential holiday item and enhances your decor by gracing doors and windows throughout your home.

Holiday Wreath Craft How-To:

1. Gather your holiday cards and separate into two piles: cards that hold sentimental value and cards with patterns and colors that you enjoy.

2. Cut leaf patterns from both piles of cards. We used scissors with jagged edges to simulate the edge of a leaf, but you can use any scissors that provide the desired effect.

3. Look in your recycling bin and grab any stiff cardboard piece for the base of the wreath. We used a side of a cereal box for our wreath. Simply cut a circle shape and cut out the center.

4. Arrange your favorite pieces of cards, photos and patterns to create a base while being mindful that you will have several layers. Strategically place leaves so that faces are unobstructed.

5. Secure leaves to the base by using glue that you already have in your home or get really crafty and make your own homemade glue. (Craft stores are a great place to start if you don't have any glue in the house. As for home-made glue recipes try this site.) As you get additional cards you can add to both the top layer and behind the base layer so that the tips of the cards are visible.

6. While drying, I placed a heavy object on top to keep the wreath as flat as possible during the drying process.

7. To hang, simply attach a recycled bow, ribbon, or hemp twine depending on your decor, and enjoy!

I love the fact that this craft can include all your family members, and that each leaf chosen will have special meaning to you and your family.

Your holiday card wreath will be a keepsake that yearly walks you down memory lane, while becoming a festive addition to your holiday decor. Plus: no more bundling up the cards of holidays past to just to sit and gather dust. Perfect!

The photo is our recently made holiday card wreath; click the link for a larger view.

An Original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. You can read more about Jen's journey going green and raising a family at her blog The Eco Chic Organizer.

Today's guest post comes to us from VelociBadgerGirl, a great writer with a passion for green issues and overall awesome human being.

If you're anything like me, every year at the end of the holiday season, you're left with a pile of greeting cards from family and friends, and no idea what to do with them.

Some people throw them out or toss them in the recycling bin, but I always feel too guilty.

It's a problem, I know, but in the meantime, I really don't want to collect boxes upon boxes of used X-mas cards. Luckily, there are a few solutions for those of us too sentimental to throw our cards out, but too practical to store them in the attic.

1 ) Card boxes

My mom uses her leftover cards to make little custom gift boxes that she can use for small gifts the following year. Find a template for a box with a bottom and a lid, like this one.

Use a copy machine to shrink it down to size, or just copy it onto your own paper with a ruler. Be sure to make the lid a tiny bit larger than the bottom so that the lid will fit over the outside of the main part of the box. Cut the lid piece from the pretty front of the card, centering it on whatever part of the design you want to feature. Cut the bottom piece from the inside of the card. Mom usually put the inscription to the inside and the shiny back of the card to the outside, but it doesn't really make a difference.

Use glue or tape to assemble your boxes, and voila!

Custom recycled gift boxes for use next year or through this one!

2 ) CD ornaments

My sister likes to make Christmas tree ornaments for her friends at college, since money is always tight. She came up with a really cute recycled card ornament idea. This one has the added benefit of recycling an old CD as well as an old greeting card.

You'll need a pretty holiday card, an old CD or CD-Rom, some ribbon, a soft cloth or paper towel, a foam craft brush or other old paint brush, a hot glue gun, and a jar of Mod Podge adhesive. I prefer the matte finish, but that's totally up to you!

Align the CD on the front of the card so that the part of the design you want to feature is centered. Most spindles of CD-Rs have a clear plastic disk exactly the size of a CD, which would be perfect to use as a pattern for this craft. Trace around the CD with a pen. Cut out the circle, making it a little smaller than the outline.

Brush Mod Podge onto the back of the card circle, and carefully place it glue-side down on the LABEL SIDE of the CD. Use the soft cloth or a paper towel to smooth out the bubbles. You should see a small border of the shiny CD around the card circle. (I'm guessing this would also work with scrapbooking spray adhesive, but I've never tried it.)

Once your ornament is COMPLETELY dry, brush a coat of Mod Podge onto the front of the ornament. This will seal it and make it shiny.

Finally, hot glue a loop of ribbon onto the back of the ornament.

If you don't have a hot glue gun, experiment with sandwiching the ribbon between the card circle and the CD.

3 ) St. Jude's Ranch

If you're not crafty but you still want your cards to be re-used, you can send them to St. Jude's Ranch for Children, a home for abused, neglected, and abandoned children. The residents of the Ranch recycle old greeting cards to make new custom cards, which they sell for pocket money. For more info about the program and the Ranch, visit their info page.

Cards are being accepted at the following address until February 28, 2009:

St. Jude's Ranch for Children
Card Recycling Program
100 St. Jude's Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

4 ) POST-HOLIDAY RECYCLING BONUS: Recycle your broken Christmas lights!

Two strings of lights on my tree went dead this year, and as much as I hated to throw them out, I didn't know what else to do with them. Then, a coworker sent me a link to a Christmas light recycling program.

According to Holiday LEDs' website, the strands are amassed and then sent to a third party recycler, who runs them through a shredder and recycles what they can from the lights and wires (like glass, copper, and PVC).

As a bonus, they'll send you a 15% off coupon good for anything on their site in exchange for your old lights!

An original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. On any other day you can find VelociBadgerGirl at Pardon the Egg Salad, where you will laugh, might possibly cry, and will definitely be amazed at her reading list.

Merry Christmas, to you.

Photo by Chris Jernigan.

Warm holiday wishes to you and yours from the team here at 5 Minutes For Going Green.

May the upcoming days be filled with copious amounts of family, friends, and a toasty beverage of your choosing.

Recycle, recycle, recycle. It's a mantra of sorts for so many of us here at 5 Minutes for Going Green, and as festive celebrating with family and friends has most likely already begun, you are about to become busier than ever.

But don't worry, we've got all your post-holiday recycling needs covered, so you can spend less time worrying how to recycle and more time circled around that last cheese log. (Don't worry about that cheese log, either; remember, resolutions start next year.)

Step One: No recyclable left behind.

In other words, figure out what, exactly, you have to recycle and if it can be recycled.

In addition to the more commonly known recyclables (cardboard/paper, plastic, glass), you can (and should!) recycle your Christmas tree, your old holiday decorations, ornaments (especially glass ornaments), wrapping paper and bags, and old toys recently replaced by new toys.

For a thorough list of other less obvious recyclable items check out Items You Never Thought To Recycle, a comprehensive article geared toward that topic specifically. I think you'll be surprised by some of the items that make his list.

Step Two: Figure out, where, locally, your closest recycling centers are for the specific items you are needing to recycle.

Earth 911 has a fantastic central search engine for local recycle centers geared toward specific recyclables in your area, and their site is packed full of helpful information, and quite easy to navigate, too.

Specifically, you can find local tree recyclers, places to take discarded toys, ornaments, and lights to be recycled, and even composting tips and tricks.

Step Three: Make recycling work harder (and pay off) for you.

Times are tight and time is most definitely money. Here are four viable ways to earn cash for your recyclable items (via TreeHugger). Add the money received to your rainy day fund, or give back to your favorite charity!

Option 1: Cell For Cash.com This company lists hundreds of cell phones on their website that they will buy back from you. All you have to do is find yours in their online listings, and they will send you a postage paid box. When you send the phone and charger back, the company will verify the unit and then send you a check. Cell for Cash then refurbishes the phone and sells them in developing countries. Please note: older models don't qualify for cash payment. If you have an older model that doesn't make their list, you recycle them at electronics stores around town, or donate them to a local shelter. Cell phones are full of toxic chemicals, and considered hazardous waste in California, so whatever you do, don't simply trash them.

Option 2: Gazelle This company, similar to Cell for Cash, will also pay you for your old electronics. Find your item on their website, and they will ship you a box and cash when they verify the item, or they can pay you via PayPal; with Gazelle you also have the option of donating the money to charity. Can't find your item on the list? They are still willing to do a price quote if you submit the item name to them. Gazelle refurbishes and then sells the electronics, or recycles them when the items are broken beyond repair.

Option 3: Cash for Clunkers This option is still in the works, but if and when finished will allow you to sell your old polluting car, where it is then scrapped for parts and taken off the market. This program is currently being tested in Texas, California, and British Columbia.

Option 4: RecycleBank This organization will actually give you gift certificates for food and pharmacy items just for recycling the things you might already be recycling: glass, paper and plastic, no sorting needed. Homeowners are given a bin with a computer chip, then when the recycling truck comes by, it weighs the bin and logs how much you recycled. This program is now available in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Nebraska, Maine, and New Jersey, and there are plans to expand to Minneapolis and Dallas soon. RecycleBank has seen an increase of 100% to 1000% in recycling rates across neighborhoods where the program is offered.

Happy! Recycling to all, and to all a good night.

An original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. Read more about all things Kerri Anne, including her renewed committment to green living and her affinity for talking in movie quotes at kerrianne.org.