A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

Today’s freebie is a copy of Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy, Non-Toxic Cleaning — a book written by Jeff Hollender, president and chief responsibility officer of Seventh Generation itself, along with Geoff Davis.

Lest you think Naturally Clean’s simply a bookish infomercial of sorts for Seventh Generation cleaning products, rest assured that the book’s really about cleaning green and keeping your home free of unnecessary environmental dangers. In fact, you’ll be happy to know that Naturally Clean provides a bunch of make-it-at-home-on-the-cheap cleaning product recipes!

You also get tips for cleaning up indoor air, learning which ingredients and products to avoid, and finding out what the 35 greenest cleaning products on the market are. Yes, many Seventh Generation products are on this creme de la creme list — as are products from Life Tree, Ecover, Bi-O-Kleen, Earth Friendly, and more. Unfortunately, the list’s rated only for safety, not effectiveness — but at least you’ll have a well curated list to begin your search for the greenest and most effective cleaners.

Longtime green LA girl readers already know green cleaning will improve your health; switching to green cleaners has certainly helped reduce my allergy attacks. Naturally Clean’s short chapters will give you a quick grasp of the history and current status of conventional cleaning products, and a handy glossary will give you definitions of chemicals and other ingredients you may have wondered about.

Comment by Tuesday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen Wednesday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

Earlier: Green cleaning made cheap and easy

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

Today’s freebie is a copy of Shift Your Habit: Easy Ways to Save Money, Simplify Your Life, and Save the Planet. Written by Elizabeth Rogers, Shift Your Habit’s basically a book chock-full of money saving eco-friendly tips, organized into neat sections for the green frugalista.

The giveaway’s a publisher’s proof copy. Get more details by reading my review of Shift Your Habit, then comment by Thursday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen next Friday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

Image via shiftyourhabit.com

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

Today’s freebie is a beautiful hardback copy of Just Enough: Lessons in Living Green From Traditional Japan by Azby Brown.

Just Enough takes a close looks at life in Japan during the Edo period about 200 years ago — and draws lessons on how we could live happier and more sustainable lives today. The book’s organized in 3 sections to look at 3 ways of life — for the farmer in the village, the carpenter in the city, and the samurai — illustrated with simple line drawings and described in storybook fashion from the perspective of an imaginary traveler visiting Edo Japan.

Each section’s followed by a number of lessons people today can draw from these lifestyles of the past. Of course, we don’t want a simple return to this past period — when class divisions are extreme and infanticide’s a common method of population control. But other takeaways from the book are valuable and applicable — like the suggestion to “rethink the meaning of comfort”:

Our notions of comfort have led us to expend far too little physical energy in the course of our daily lives and to consume fuel for reasons that are difficult to justify on the basis of health or well-being. Walking and biking are healthier than driving or riding, and they consume little or no fuel. A simple increase in these activities, which would mean increasing the pedestrianization and bikeability of our communities, would go a long way toward reducing our already dangerous obesity levels.

Just Enough offers an interesting and engaging perspective on Edo Japan for those who enjoy reading about cultural history, alongside sustainable ideas relevant today. Comment by Tuesday to get into the drawing for Just Enough, which’ll happen Wednesday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

Today’s freebie is a copy of Green Careers for Dummies, a newish book by Carol McClelland for would-be participants in the new green economy.

Green Careers for Dummies takes a careful eco-minded thinker’s approach, encouraging readers to take a more whole-person approach to the job search, reasoning out why and what exactly they’re seeking in a green job before delving into the how-tos.

Read my review of Green Careers for Dummies here, then comment by Thursday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen next Friday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

Image via dummies.com

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

Curious about those energy-saving power strips that’ll help you vanquish vampire power from your home? Then enter this week’s freebie to win an iGo Power Smart Tower!

This Smart Tower’s basically a tech-savvy power strip that cuts off power to gadgets and chargers when they’re not in use. Read my review of the iGo Power Smart Tower to find out more about the gadget and whether it may be right for you.

The Smart Tower that’s going to be given away is the same one I tried out for the review, so keep in mind that it’s not brand new — though barely used and in its box with the instruction pamphlet.

Because the Smart Tower’s heavy, this drawing’s open only to L.A.-area residents willing to pick up the freebie from Santa Monica. Comment by Tuesday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen next Wednesday (more info on freebies here).

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

Today’s freebie will be a coveted one for anyone planning a green spring cleaning. One lucky green LA girl reader will win the entire set of Martha Stewart Clean products!

These new natural cleaning products are certified by the EPA’s Design for Environment program, made with 99% plant and mineral ingredients, and contain no artificial fragrances or colors. I haven’t tried out the products myself yet, but Everyday House Blend has put up a detailed review grading individual products, awarding the line as a whole a solid B.

Hopefully whoever wins this set can give all of us a second review. He or she will get all 10 Martha Stewart Clean products: Dish Soap, Dishwasher Detergent, Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, All Purpose Cleaner, Glass and Mirror Cleaner, Carpet Stain Remover, Wood Floor Cleaner, Bathroom Cleaner, and Toilet Bowl Cleaner.

Comment by Thursday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen next Friday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

Can’t wait to see if you win? Find Martha Stewart Clean at Home Depot or on Amazon. BTW, the latest issue of Martha Stewart’s Body + Soul eco-magazine has a spring cleaning feature — 50 Tips for a Greener, Cleaner Home — if you’d like green cleaning tips to go along with the eco-products.

Photo via Martha Stewart Clean

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

Today’s freebie’s a copy of Slow Death By Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things — a book by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie that shows how innocuous items like your shampoo or frying pan could be polluting your body — and what you can do to limit dousing yourself with harmful chemicals.

Slow Death’s full of crazy experimental antics undertaken by the authors themselves, a detailed history of how our daily lives got to be so chemically polluted, and concise tips on how you can drastically reduce the number and amount of chemical pollutants in your home.

Read my review of Slow Death, then comment by Tuesday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen Wednesday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

Today’s freebies are for the faithful male readers of green LA girl — or the female ones who like men’s T-shirts. Two lucky green LA girl readers will win organic cotton Vote the Ocean T-shirts!

The limited edition organic cotton O’Neill T-shirts come courtesy of Vote the Ocean, a new non-partisan political initiative run by project BLUE and Ocean Champions, aimed at motivating and empowering ocean enthusiasts to make informed voting decisions.

Two lucky winners will get a T-shirt in the size of their choice. To win one, comment — naming the size (M – XL) of your choice — by Thursday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen next Friday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

Want a second chance to win these T-shirts? Become a fan of project BLUE on Facebook and write a comment on the wall mentioning green LA girl! Do that before next Friday, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for one of two more of these Vote the Ocean T-shirts.

Image via project BLUE

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

Today’s freebie is a trio of reusables:

>> A pink Make Love Not Trash tote — made of (unfortunately not organic) cotton with an inner zippered pouch for valuables. The tote’s designed by the L.A.-based company bag company — but made in China (responsibly, according to the company).

>> A red polka dot LunchSkins reusable snack pouch from 3 Green Moms that’s made of (unfortunately not organic) cotton but is lead-free, bpa-free and phthalate-free.

>> A denim business card pouch from Reco Jeans, a recycled denim company.

All these reusables came in the gift bag at the EcoDivasTV launch party last week. Comment by Tuesday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen Wednesday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

Today’s freebie is a copy of  The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget: Save Money. Save Time. Save the Planet by Josh Dorfman!

In this quick read, Josh — aka The Lazy Environmentalist — shows that thinking green has gotten quite a bit easier in recent years, thanks to all the new green options out there offered by new eco-conscious businesses as well as older, bigger companies that are starting to cater to the green market.

Read my review of The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget, then comment by Thursday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen Friday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

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