Back in the Saddle Bike Collective

Back in the Saddle Bike Collective is an all-volunteer organization based in Conway, AR. According to their blog,

Back in the Saddle (BITS) Bike Collective started in the late fall of 2006, with the first bike being built and given away in early 2007. There are a lot of different goals for BITS. Spreading bike culture/education and sustainable transportation, helping and teaching you how to go (or stay) carless, teaching people how to build & maintain their own bikes, and fostering a more bike-friendly community are all important aims of BITS.

Check them out online for more info, or stop by the shop in downtown Conway.

Five Tips to Green Your Work Day

Every Monday is Tip Day on The Whole Life. This week we’ve listed Five Tips to Green Your Work Day:

1. Ride your bike to work, or consider an alternative transportation method like city transit or even carpooling with co-workers. 
2. Bring your lunch, and eat outside on a bench rather than driving to a restaurant. Or consider walking to a local cafe. Both options reduce your daily carbon footprint, boost your daily exercise level, and support the local food economy.
3. Use energy efficient office equipment. Energy Star ratings are become more common on every day office equipment like computers, monitors, printers, and fax machines. Utilizing Energy Star-rated equipment reduces energy consumption and your organization’s carbon footprint.
4. Reduce paper waste by utilizing electronic documents and communication methods. Rather than printing an entire web document, bookmark the page, or copy and paste only the information you need. If you must print a document, consider duplexing (printing on both sides of the page) and printing on post-consumer recycled paper.
5. Power down at the end of the day. Even when you turn off you computer, it consumes “phantom power” throughout the night. You can reduce energy consumption and waste by utilizing a power strip for all of your office equipment, and turning off the entire system at the end of the day. 

Why Organic Cotton?

While choosing organic produce just makes sense, to many of us, choosing organic cotton just doesn’t seem that important. Read on to learn more about organic cotton and how choosing it over conventional products can make a substantial impact on the global community.

Supporting Local Farmers Through the CSA

The CSA is an association of local farmers. These farmers serve global markets, but they also provide access to locally and often organically grown produce. Read on to learn more about the CSA and how you can connect with CSA farmers in your area.

Boulevard Bread Company Goes Green

Boulevard Bread Company is locally owned by Scott…. They have two hot spots – one off of Kavanaugh and Grant in the Heights region of Little Rock, and one on Presidential Avenue in the Little Rock River Market. This cafe is a favorite among locals and offers imported cheeses, delicious fresh-baked breads, and locally grown produce.

Every Monday is Tip Day!

Every Monday is Tip Day on The Whole Life. If you’d like tips on how to live more sustainably, or how to make eco-friendly choices at work or in the marketplace, email us, and we’ll post them on the blog.

Freecycle

We all know the three R’s of environmental responsibility: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Now www.freecycle.org is adding a fourth: Freecycle. Community groups are formed through an online forum, and members offer and accept items that they would like to giveaway rather than send to the landfill. Read on to learn how you can get involved.