I recently attended a Public Library Book Sale...I thought this was a great idea! The Library gets rid of unneeded books, raises money, and books don't go to the landfill! Win-Win-Win!
Here is what happened.
I accidentally got to the sale early (it was the last day of the sale where you pay $6 for a whole bag of books) I got in line, with about 30 people in front of me. I had to wait for about 45 minutes but I have an iPhone so the time went by quickly. I looked up at about 5 minutes til opening and noticed that there were about 400 people now in line. WOW! Then the doors opened. There was not longer a line, but a crowd of hungry bargain hunters running toward the door. I just stood back and let them all go...(I mean, who else is going to the financial book section?) I was the youngest shopper there at 25 years. Most of the people there always run to the novels section or childrens book area.
The people in line that were making small talk and laughing are now grabbing books and yelling at each other over who had a book first. People are stepping on my toes (I wore sandals...big mistake) shoving etc.... I finally made my way to the financial section and picked through the books at a leisurely pace... After about 45 minutes I filled my bag with books for me and my mother (she likes cookbooks) and made my way to the check out area.
My total was $6....the ladies at the checkout area were extremely frazzled but polite. I wrote my check and handed it to the lady...I wrote it for $10 and she started to tear up.????? I said I'm sorry, I don't need change, I just wanted to donate a little more, its not much but 'thank you'....This made her day!
If you get a chance to go to a book sale, please do. It helps keep good books out of the landfill, raises money for local non-profits, and is an experience you will never forget.
Tips if you attend one of these:
Take a re-usable shopping bag...books are heavy and you don't want to have to pick up your books that tear through a flimsy bag.
Where comfortable shoes.
Get there early if you want a particular/popular type of book.
Be polite....this goes for anything...we just need more polite people in the world. I know..I work in retail! LOL
If your organization is having a book sale, post it here or on the Announcements section on www.Classifieds.Duperoo.com
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Nominate Me Please!
Please visit http://tj.mtv.com/open-nomination/ and nominate me for MTV Twitter Jockey just type in @ThomasJowers to nominate me...Thanks
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Gulf Oil Spill
Okay...I have a week of vacation time saved up and I wanted to help clean-up the Gulf Oil Spill. Being a shareholder of BP stock, I feel like it is my duty to help. So...here is what has happened when I tried to help.
First of all, I live in West/Central Texas, so I could drive to Louisiana in a day to be ready to help. I sent an email to BP and to the state of Louisiana saying that I am prepared to help. I have a degree in Biology so I am qualified to help a little more than others. Well, I received an email from BP telling me to go to the webpage of Louisiana. I also received an email from Louisiana telling me to register with a third party Volunteer Site. Now...I kind don't want to help because they are making it too hard to physically help.
One thing I am happy about is BP said that once the well is fied they are going to donate a portion of the money made from that well to create a fund to help keep the Gulf Coast and its Wildlife healthy from here on out!
If you find it hard to physically help and want to donate money, please check out these charities that are helping in the Gulf Region.
WorldWildLife.org
EDF.org
Nature.org
Oceana.org
First of all, I live in West/Central Texas, so I could drive to Louisiana in a day to be ready to help. I sent an email to BP and to the state of Louisiana saying that I am prepared to help. I have a degree in Biology so I am qualified to help a little more than others. Well, I received an email from BP telling me to go to the webpage of Louisiana. I also received an email from Louisiana telling me to register with a third party Volunteer Site. Now...I kind don't want to help because they are making it too hard to physically help.
One thing I am happy about is BP said that once the well is fied they are going to donate a portion of the money made from that well to create a fund to help keep the Gulf Coast and its Wildlife healthy from here on out!
If you find it hard to physically help and want to donate money, please check out these charities that are helping in the Gulf Region.
WorldWildLife.org
EDF.org
Nature.org
Oceana.org
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Companies Doing Good
I was surfing the web looking for article ideas when I came across this information from the Coca-Cola website..
Since 2007, Coca-Cola Recycling has worked with the
Coca-Cola system and community partners to increase the collection of beverage packaging for use again in North America. We currently manage 30 dedicated recycling centers, a commercial brokerage network, an online recycling bin fulfillment site and the execution of hundreds of local recycling programs around the country. With your help, Coca-Cola Recycling is developing cost-effective solutions for reusing beverage containers. Last year CCR recovered over 200 million pounds of recyclables and has a goal to reach 500 million pounds by 2010.
Visit www.CokeBins.com to purchase your own recycled plastic Bin for recycling.
Here you will find a variety of bins for home, office, industrial, and event use.
Since 2007, Coca-Cola Recycling has worked with the
Coca-Cola system and community partners to increase the collection of beverage packaging for use again in North America. We currently manage 30 dedicated recycling centers, a commercial brokerage network, an online recycling bin fulfillment site and the execution of hundreds of local recycling programs around the country. With your help, Coca-Cola Recycling is developing cost-effective solutions for reusing beverage containers. Last year CCR recovered over 200 million pounds of recyclables and has a goal to reach 500 million pounds by 2010.
Visit www.CokeBins.com to purchase your own recycled plastic Bin for recycling.
Here you will find a variety of bins for home, office, industrial, and event use.
Monday, May 3, 2010
SeaWorld
I am really impressed with the links with which SeaWorld goes to mke sure they are doing their part to help the environment.
I recently took a day trip to San Antonio, Tx and visited SeaWorld for the first time. Most of the utensils for meals were recyclable and plant based. They also had many receptacles throughout the park for recycling cans and bottles. The keepers and trainers also touched on many points on wildlife conservation and recycling. A very pleasant park to visit!
I recently took a day trip to San Antonio, Tx and visited SeaWorld for the first time. Most of the utensils for meals were recyclable and plant based. They also had many receptacles throughout the park for recycling cans and bottles. The keepers and trainers also touched on many points on wildlife conservation and recycling. A very pleasant park to visit!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Grow your own herbs
I went to the store the other day to purhase some groceries. When I got to the herb section the prices blew me away!
I have always grown something every year, last year it was chives. This year I am growing a lot more herbs but still in a confined space.
In 2 long containers with soil I added the seeds and watered them and put them in partial shade.
The Herbs that I chose this year:
Chives
Garlic Chives
Dill
Parsley
Italian Flat Leaf Parsley
Spinach
I know Spinach is not a herb, but I put spinach in nearly everything because I like to think it makes my cooking more healthier.
This all didnt cost much at all and does not take up hardly any room at all. This could be done in an apartment, in the kitchen window sill, etc...
I had to buy the containers, soil, and seeds. The seeds were only $1 per package. You might already have a container you want to use too!
By planting this little herb garden you are helping the Earth in many ways. The plants will take in CO2 and release O2. When you buy herbs in the supermarket, they come in plastic packaging that ends up in the landfill. Also how did the herbs get to the store, by truck, you are saving the fuel from trucking in the herbs.
So we save
-Plastic Packaging from the trash
-Removes CO2 from the Air
-Saving on Fuel and CO2 emissions from the Truck.
And Trust me, every dish you make with your own home grown herbs just taste better!
I have always grown something every year, last year it was chives. This year I am growing a lot more herbs but still in a confined space.
In 2 long containers with soil I added the seeds and watered them and put them in partial shade.
The Herbs that I chose this year:
Chives
Garlic Chives
Dill
Parsley
Italian Flat Leaf Parsley
Spinach
I know Spinach is not a herb, but I put spinach in nearly everything because I like to think it makes my cooking more healthier.
This all didnt cost much at all and does not take up hardly any room at all. This could be done in an apartment, in the kitchen window sill, etc...
I had to buy the containers, soil, and seeds. The seeds were only $1 per package. You might already have a container you want to use too!
By planting this little herb garden you are helping the Earth in many ways. The plants will take in CO2 and release O2. When you buy herbs in the supermarket, they come in plastic packaging that ends up in the landfill. Also how did the herbs get to the store, by truck, you are saving the fuel from trucking in the herbs.
So we save
-Plastic Packaging from the trash
-Removes CO2 from the Air
-Saving on Fuel and CO2 emissions from the Truck.
And Trust me, every dish you make with your own home grown herbs just taste better!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Don't Throw out your old Clothes!
It takes a lot of natural resources to make that sweater, dont just throw it away!
Uses for old clothes:
-Some clothes make good rags, just cut them to the desired size.
-Old pants can become shorts, just cut to the correct length.
-You can use the fabric for crafts, such as purses, rice warmers, quilts.
-You always need a few old sets of clothes to wear while you work in the garden or while painting.
-You can make paper out of some clothing like denim and cotton.
If you don't want to re-use your old clothing you can still donate them to people in need. You can usually drop them off at local churches or a goodwill store.
There is hidden value in your old clothing, I am talking cash here!
Every 6 months I go through my closet and take out everything that doesnt fit or I dont want. I separate them into 2 piles. Good and Rags. The items that go into the rags pile are of course turned into rags, I also cut any buttons off them and store in a jar, when a jar gets full I can usually sell it on ebay for about $10-$15 bucks! The good pile goes to a local church resale store, they take my old clothes, price them, and sell them. Half of the money comes to me, Half to the church, after 3 months any clothes that did not sell are donated to the church. Sometimes I make an extra $100-$120
So there, dont just throw out those clothes, they can be used again!
Uses for old clothes:
-Some clothes make good rags, just cut them to the desired size.
-Old pants can become shorts, just cut to the correct length.
-You can use the fabric for crafts, such as purses, rice warmers, quilts.
-You always need a few old sets of clothes to wear while you work in the garden or while painting.
-You can make paper out of some clothing like denim and cotton.
If you don't want to re-use your old clothing you can still donate them to people in need. You can usually drop them off at local churches or a goodwill store.
There is hidden value in your old clothing, I am talking cash here!
Every 6 months I go through my closet and take out everything that doesnt fit or I dont want. I separate them into 2 piles. Good and Rags. The items that go into the rags pile are of course turned into rags, I also cut any buttons off them and store in a jar, when a jar gets full I can usually sell it on ebay for about $10-$15 bucks! The good pile goes to a local church resale store, they take my old clothes, price them, and sell them. Half of the money comes to me, Half to the church, after 3 months any clothes that did not sell are donated to the church. Sometimes I make an extra $100-$120
So there, dont just throw out those clothes, they can be used again!
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