41 Pounds is a non-profit junk mail reduction service that guarantees it will reduce your junk mail by 80-95% within 2 months of your signing up and will keep it this way for 5 years. 41 Pounds will contact direct marketing associations and catalogs companies on your behalf and instruct them to remove your name and address from their mailing lists–all for $41.
I signed up with 41 pounds about a year ago, and although I haven’t tested to see whether my mail has been reduced by 80%, it has been significantly reduced. If at any point during the 5 year period you notice that you are getting new junk mail and/or that your old junk mail is returning, contact 41 pounds and they’ll take care of it for you.
There are also things you can do to protect yourself. Check out our green tip, Junk Your Junk Mail, to learn more.
Boston’s last working farm, Allandale Farm, has been in operation in the same location (near Faulkner Hospital) for over 250 years. Allandale farm uses organic methods even though, like many small farms, it does not have USDA Organic Certification to grow produce that it sells at its market, at grocery stores around the region and to its CSA shareholders. Allandale also offers a summer camp program for children ages 4-10.
Founded in 1981, Beyond Pesticides is a non-profit organization devoted to assessing and publicizing the risks of conventional pest management practices and identifying and promoting healthy and environmentally-friendly non-chemical alternatives. Beyond Pesticides provides a wealth of information about pesticides including the Pesticide Gateway, a database of 80+ pesticides, and fact sheets on non-chemical treatments for a range of pests, from ants to rodents to wasps.
The Boston Building Materials Resource Center is a nonprofit dedicated to reusing good-quality used and surplus building materials. They accept donations of everything from used sinks and cabinetry to surplus lumber, and they resell them to the public at low prices. If you are undertaking a home improvement project, check with the resource center before you throw your old stuff away.
Byggmeister is a design/build firm based in Newton, MA that specializes in high performance residential remodeling. Byggmeister is passionate about energy performance and committed to environmental stewardship–not to mention that they offer exceptionally high quality design services and craftsmanship. In addition to remodeling, Byggmeister also provides energy audits and coordinatates energy improvements for homeowners seeking to make energy upgrades to their homes.
No they don’t sell hay or baby chicks. Yes they do sell local produce, sustainably raised meat, and fair trade coffee. City Feed and Supply is a Jamaica Plain “people feed” grocery store and cafe with a passion for local food and a strong commitment to sustainable business practices. If I lived in JP (which I don’t) I might have to move into this store I love it so much. For a small store, they carry an impressive selection of green & healthy food, their breakfast and lunch menu is delicious and the vibe is just outstanding. If you live, work or play in JP and haven’t been to City Feed & Supply you must pay them a visit.
The City of Newton provides an exhaustive “recyclopedia” to help residents donate and recycle household items. The “recyclopedia” covers everything from packing peanuts to computers. It’s a great resource, even if you don’t live in Newton!
Earth911 is an online resources dedicated to helping people reduce, reuse and recycle. They started off as a “recycling hotline” seventeen years ago and, still today, one of their most useful features is their recycling database. You can search the database by material and zipcode to find a recycling center that will accept even those hard-to-recycle items like paint, carpeting and electronics.
Energy Federation Incorporated is a MA-based non-profit that provides products and services to help people conserve energy and water. EFI’s online store sells energy efficient lighting, low-flow showerheads, and other conservation-related products directly to consumers. Many products that EFI sells, like dimmable CFLs, are hard to find at retail stores.
Freecycle is an excellent resource if you’re looking to reduce your waste. Freecycle, which is a grassroots, online movement, is dedicated to keeping good stuff out of landfills. Freecycle networks exist in a number of MA towns and cities. Members give and get stuff from each other for free by posting items online. Each network is moderated by a local volunteer and membership is free.
