Ella's Botanicals: A Joyous Giveaway!

I am cloth diapering my little one :)

I try to buy as much as possible at my local farmer's market, from my local farmers! Yum.

we are composting everything we can, we buy organic when we can and support our local market. We also use a product called Norwex that is a line of environmentally friendly cleaning/household products. And thanks to your great newsletters we are eating fabulous food and I am happy to say my family has lost weight and I too have lost 22 pounds the slow healthly way (since Feb) and have never felt better. Thanks Joy :)

I try to everyday vote with my money; Buy local and organic. I also have turned to buying sustainable clothing, as well as only shopping at used clothing stores. My largest contribution will be planting trees! I will be volunteering to plant trees in my neighborhood in November, and will continue to volunteer for as long as possible.

Probably the biggest change I have made in order to live a cleaner, greener lifestyle is eliminating all toxic chemicals from my home! Our cleaning supplies consist of vinegar, lemons, essential oils, dr bronners and micro fibre cloths. That's it. Also, the only candles/room fresheners we allow in our home are pure beeswax candles. I made this change quite a few years ago now and immediately my migraines and sinus issues improved!

We signed up for fruit and veggie service that delivers fresh, local and organic veggies/fruits to our doorstep every week! And cleansed out our personal care products of items with harsh parabens!

I buy more and more local fruits and veggies at the Farmer's Market AND try my best to buy everything organic when available! OH! I also now use coconut oil as my moisturizer and a completely natural body wash, now I need to find a natural shampoo :)

I do the majority of my shopping at the local farmers markets, I only use recyclable bags, I have replaced all my in home cleaners with vinegar, water and lemon and have significantly cut down on my shower duration (thanks to your tip of only washing hair every 3-4 days)... they are all little things but they are definitely steps in the right direction!

Eating locally and supporting local organic farmers, best choice I ever made :)

we compost, recycle, support local businesses, especially our Farmer's Markets and CSA! we buy clean personal care products as well as products for our home and cleaning.

I try to reduce my family's carbon footprint by cycling as much as possible, buying local and organic food, using 'green' products, and not buying processed 'non-food'.

This summer I have started purchasing all of my produce from the amazing Farmer's Markets around Toronto! I am slowly but surely replacing all of my personal care products with green products. I bike everywhere! It's a great way to really get to know your city and be green : )

I have eliminated all toxic chemicals from my home. I have switched our lotions, hair products,soaps, and many other items. My daughter even made homemade toothpaste! I am excited for our changes.

I shop at the farmers market, use gentle cleaners around my home and I recycle.

I have been eliminating toxic cleaners - opting for vinegar, water and lemon. I have also cut out toxic products by making my own face scrub, toothpaste and deodorant. So far it has worked great. :)

I pick through the garbage at home to correct my family's mistakes in recycling and composting! I also pick up my friends and family's litter and lecture them about protecting our planet :) i study environmental management at UofT to learn and understand more about environmental issues. And i only use pure, organic and natural products (whose packaging can be recycled or is biodegradable) on my body and for house cleaning! I always buy these healthier, greener products for friends and family for birthdays and Christmas and tell them all about the healthy brands!

These products sound amazing! Probiotics included ... what a great concept. My company provides plastic utensils for lunch, etc. I've made it a habit to bring my own cloth napkin & silverware from home. this cuts down on waste in my body and in the environment.

I switch to natural cleaning products and recycle everything i possibly can! Love using natural beauty products too..I'm even looking for organic food for my puppy :)

I use natural cleaning products and beauty products to live a cleaner, green lifestyle. I use Earth Berries instead of laundry soap and clean the house with white vinegar. I soak lemon rinds (leftover from my morning lemon water) in the vinegar for a couple days so it has a nice lemony fresh smell when I clean.

I recently sold my car and have been enjoying getting around on my bike and on foot.

Thanks for the informative post! I always carry a reusable water bottle, ride my bike around the city and love to support local farmers at the market!

I dry all of my laundry outside--makes them smell oh so nice and saves energy! I also plant a garden every year chock full of fresh tomatoes, swiss chard, carrots, beets, and herbs. I love picking fresh produce from my own backyard. Go Green!

farmer's market every other saturday, no paper towels, re-use as much as i can -- especially plastic bags, conserve power at home...

I try to buy local and organic when I can and am trying to eliminate all toxic chemicals in my cleaning and personal products.

I cloth diaper, use only natural/ organic shampoos,oils, butters toothpaste on myself and children, recycle, buy organic food, use natual laundry detergent and much more :)

I use a lot of homemade products with less chemicals,Electricity/Energy (limit the lights & using during peak times, Recycling, use cloth bags to go shopping with, use Crocheted Cotton instead of paper towels & Kitchen / Dish scrubber, clean products, reusable snack bag just to name a few things I do. Thanks for the chance to win Ella’s three lotions.

I buy local, recycle, free cycle, and try to connect with the natural world as much as possible.

i'm using compostable kitchen organics bags, and making homemade natural veggie soaks and floor wash with essential oils like tea tree and peppermint. And Farmer's markets all the way!

Before I buy any cosmetic product, I search the EWG's cosmetic database to make sure it doesn't cobtain harmful chemicals. I learned that tip from your blog!

Composting, recycling.. I use my paper bags from Whole Foods and Choices markets for all paper recycling and simply carry it to the blue box. I use cloth bags, I have started buying organic and shop for local produce. I also juice and continue to educate myself on becoming greener and ultimately healthier.

I bring my lunch to work, instead of eating in the food court. This cuts down on a lot of extra packaging.

I use homemade cleaning products, and make a conscious effort to buy local products. I shop at the Farmer's Market and enjoy fresh produce from friend's gardens :)

I'm definitely starting to remove toxic chemicals from our household, using more natural cleaners and boby products. I have two in diapers so I made the switch to cloth diapers and wipes. My children's clothing is also about 85% hand-me-downs. I have not started this year because of being so busy with the kiddos (5,2,1 years of age) but I really want to grow our own family garden and compost a lot more then we do now, but for now I buy local vegetables/fruit and compost a little. :)

I buy all of my fruits and veggies from a local farm through their CSA program. They practice sustainable, organic farming and oh I taste the difference! :) I use Dr. Bronners to clean EVERYTHING, it really is an 18-in-1 soap! Whatever miscellaneous groceries I need I buy from an uber small scale grocer that ethically centers their business around making a change in what we consume. I am currently attending school to become and Ayurvedic practitioner with hopes of getting a masters in Holistic Health Education someday, because i get no greater joy than to share what i know with others and see them heal themselves! That is my contribution now and even more so once I have finished school. :)

I stopped using my dryer, and hang all my clothes outside. We also use our blue and green boxes weekly.

Eat organic, local produce; grow my own tomatoes and kale; ride my bicycle whenever possible; use only green body and face products.

I generally avoid eating out and bring snacks and lunch with me. I've also started buying vintage/secondhand clothing. I've gotten more compliments on my one $2.25 red and white polka dot dress from Kensington Market than any other thing I own!

I am growing vegetables in containers this year. The salad made with home grown vegetables just taste amazing!

I recently bought a Klean Kanteen for my water, and a Thermos to bring my own coffee to work - I no longer buy plastic bottled water or store-bought coffee - less waste in the landfills!

Living in the suburbs, cars are every where and rarely do you see pedestrians. Switching to the bicycle for to do errands around town is the way to go! It also limits how much I can carry with me! lol

I have SUBSTANTIALLY cut back on the amount of meat I eat. Cows produce a lot of emissions - it's even debatable that they may be causing more damaging emissions than vehicles! I also have a concern for the state of our ocean and the fish population (something I have grown more and more aware of living on Canada's West Coast for several years now). I know fish is good for me, but I try to be conscious of how sustainable the source is. And fish oil has become a no-no for me (just a personal conviction), so I eat lots of flaxseed oil to get my Omegas!!

Currently I have been reaping the benefits of my parent's backyard garden, eating as local as can be! Also, every once in a while I do some research and switch one of my beauty and/or cleaning products to a cleaner alternative. My next course of action is laundry detergent!

My greenest lifestyle choice was not purchasing a vehicle. I have been walking and using public transit and I am loving it.

I eat locally and grow some of my veggies in my new backyard garden - nothing better! I've also drastically changed my personal care products. Many of them are now homemade!

I compost, eat a mainly vegan diet, and make or buy organic beauty and bath products.

I walk to the local farmer's market, post office, grocery store, and Target from my house. I bring my own bag when grocery shopping. I have designated containers in my house to recycle papers and plastics. I use tupperware as much as possible rather than plastic bags.

I cycle everywhere. I shop the farmers market and only buy sustainably harvested fish and meat that is in season and from a local farmer. I save green food scraps and bones in the freezer until I have enough to make stock. I don't use plastic wrap. I eat in and not out. I have a big veggie garden that feeds my family in the summer. I use only chemical free products. I only buy local wine. I read and stay informed on issues concerning the environment and petition for change.

I used cloth diapers for my little girl and started using coconut oil for my lotion and in my hair.

Using reusable garbage bags and limiting showers to less than 10 minutes!

This summer I committed to buying the majority of my food from local organic farmers at the farmers markets. I have also reduced the amount of meat I'm eating - and feel better for it. And I bought a bike!

I am growing my own (organic!) veggie garden and eating mostly vegetarian meals.

I have began eliminated toxic chemicals from our home. I made the following changes so far: switched body lotion, hair products, and cleaning supplies. I am still working on others - soap, etc.

I am making house cleaning products and personal care products from natural ingredients (all-purpose sprays with essential oils, scrubs, lip balms) and introducing them to my friends and networks. Also provide occassional workshops for women on how to do this and how to make slow, sustainable lifestyle changes!

I loveee these products! I was introduced to them @ the Scandinavian Spa in Collingwood. I have started using almost all organic products for my bathroom/make-up kit/skin care...even my tampons now, thanks to you. I also make fresh organic smoothies every morning & enjoy every sip :)

We have been composting for years, we are fortunate to have a large organic garden, what I don't grow I get from the local farmers market and I shop in a small independent grocery store three blocks from my home. I make it a point to add something more green to my cleaning every season, my goal is to eventually be completely green.

Although there is so much one can do its the amounts of little things that all of us can do to change our imprint on our Earth. I've started by getting rid of all airfresheners and cleaners in the household and strictly use vinegar and water and essential oils to eliminate any odors from cooking. I shop organic when i can and I have become very aware of labels on everything i buy from food to beauty products.

--We are selling our car and committing to walking and biking more --I am committing to make and grow more of the things I normally buy like vegetables, bread and shampoo. --I eat a vegan diet, which is much kinder to the planet than supporting the production of animal products. --I started a blog to chronicle my eco-minded efforts and share tips and recipes with others; having a blog encourages me to keep pushing myself further to know better and do better! Thanks for the giveaway and all the great info on your website.

I live at home and since I can only do so much to convince my family chemicals are bad, I've decided to go green in my bathroom. All of my cleaning supplies, soaps, shampoos, skin care, etc etc are green. I go grocery shopping with them and choose organic and local, or buy some groceries myself. I don't drink bottled water anymore, or eat meat, I, ride my bike more, encourage others to make cleaner options and that's it..I think lol.

I am composting and shopping at my local farmers market!

Cycle as much as possible. I'm a huge advocate for buying local and eating what's in season. I've changed about 90% of my cleaning products and cosmetics to items that are clean & safe for my skin & environment. Love the changes and discoveries I've made!

I shop at my local farmers market for fruits and veggies, and just switched to all natural shampoo/conditioner.

The biggest change for me was going organic. I did it for the sake of my children. While it is considerably more expensive, I decided to cut corners in other areas so as to start purchasing organic food items. The way food is produced and ‘man-handled’ today, is beginning to impact human health in negative ways.

We cloth diaper our little boy. Compost, recycle. We receive once a week a basket of organic vegetables, meat and eggs from local farms. All our cleaning product for the house are made by our friend, she is an herboriste. We try to buy clothes made locally in Quebec and love shopping in thrifts stores. Even our living room sofa is made of non toxics fabric and redone by a local company.

I conserve water and energy in my home, and I use natural products that are not tested on animals!

Composting, living car free by biking/using public transit everywhere I go, and shopping primarily at farmers markets around the city :)

I walk everywhere

I buy as much organic and local produce and groceries as possible, as well as go to the farmer's market when I can! I also use all clean household cleaners and started switching to more natural makeup as I'm realizing how toxic it is to my body. I also always use apricot kernel oil as a moisturizer and use only tea tree oil and lavender mixed with water as a toner for my skin.

My children, now in midtwenties, were diapered with cloth. I've hugely reduced garbage by recycling. Our household is moving towards environmentally friendly cleaning products. I use almost no make-up or fragrances. I shop locally. I fork out the extra cash to buy fair trade, shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee. We have converted portions of our lawn to mulch for planted bushes and raised beds for vegetables. I drive a small car which is easy on gas. I hang my laundry as weather allows And best of all: I read joyously read Joyous Health posts. Thanks. Keep them coming.

I grow my own veggies, compost and use "green" cleaners in my home :-)

I grow a lot of my own vegetables, fruits and herbs; learn new ways in preserving my garden goodness to keep me going through the colder seasons; grow all my food organically; and use green products in my household and on my body. I hope I win :0)

I cloth diaper'd and breast fed my babies. We try to grow our own organic veggies, but when that doesn't work we buy local. We car pool, and are planning on purchasing a hybrid vehicle as soon as possible We use/make our own green cleaners, and reuse as much plastic, paper and cardboard in our hours in the hordes of crafts my daughters and I come up with (with some help from pinterest of course)

I'm a "weekday vegetarian" and I sip my green juices from mason jars :) Next step: buy a glass straw!

My newest green practices include a using a glass straw for my green juices and smoothies, and coconut oil to moisturize my body!

My four C's for living green: Compost Coconut oil for natural beauty Commute by foot or public transit Coffee in a reusable mug

Got my community to get recycle bins!

Coffee/Tea in reusable mug, I compost, and no paper-towels in my kitchen - just rags! ;)

As a health-conscious, bike riding, green smoothie- organic -produce and natural beauty products -loving individual I would consider myself a person that values a clean, and green lifestyle. As a former make-up artist I am slowly but surely replacing the products I thought I couldnt live without, with greener, more safe and healthier choices. However, as a new reader of joyous health I feel more and more inspired every day to make greater changes. Your recipes, detox tips and advice for cleaner living are motivating and informative. Thanks Joy!

We just recently adopted a dog and started utilizing an underground pet waste composter, placed amongst our evergreens..simple, inexpensive and is saving our landfills...trying to reduce my pets impact on the enviroment... :) (do your research before installing as it may not be suitable for ALL situations eg. soil type) :)

I use bpa free, re-usable containers and bottles and eat whole foods.

I cloth diaper!

I am living a cleaner, greener lifestyle by composting, recycling, and reusing as much as possible. I buy local and organic whenever I can. I walk or ride my bike instead of driving if it is reasonable. Most importantly, I am teaching my children to do all those things as well.

My contribution to living a clean green lifestyle is educating our youth on ways to make green lifestyle choices. I teach High School Health and Earth Science and I see myself has a role model and am always demonstrating the green lifestyle choices and behaviors.