Shop Local Success for Community and Business

Last week I dashed into my local Food City store to grab a few things for a pot of "Ward Off the Cold" chicken soup. While a very nice clerk scanned the celery, I complimented her on the cool eco T-shirt she was wearing.

She beamed and explained that my local Food City store had:

— recycled beyond target goals

— reduced their electric bill significantly

The result of this accomplishment was that Food City corporate had gifted all employees in the local Independence, Virginia store with groovy eco T-shirts, a bonus casual dress day, AND cash gift cards!

Here's a big shout out to Food City for rewarding their inspired employees at this small town store. I have long appreciated the company's commitment to efforts in buying local produce, increasing organic offerings and support of our local Earth Day events. They have even embraced social media with an active Facebook page where their sense of community is demonstrated daily.

Now I have one more reason to be a loyal customer....and remember to bring my own reusable bags!

Again, kudos to all the committed individuals in the Independence, Virginia store who love Mother Earth with both their words AND their actions, Thank YOU!

Recognizing Women She-ros for International Women's Day

Funny how many times I have heard International Women's Day mentioned this year.  News casts, talk shows, conversations...you don't suppose all the news about Women's Health initiatives has raised the visibility factor?  I don't recall International Women's Day getting much attention in the past, though it has been around over 100 years.  In many countries it is an official holiday!

Since Oxfam America is encouraging women to celebrate and honor their inspirations for IWD, this seems like a good time to share my joy at getting to meet one of my sustainability She-ros, Vandana Shiva, nuclear physicist by training, sustainability educator and activist by calling. Attending the 2010 Sisters of Earth biennial conference in New York, l anticipated hearing Dr. Shiva speak about her books Stolen Harvest, Water Wars, and others, or the many advocacy campaigns she has launched to help women.  From preserving water rights for indigenous women to seed integrity protection from GMO polluters, her work for conservation  has touched millions of people.

Engaged to deliver the keynote address, she stayed for all three days of the conference, brought her sister (a noted public health physician in India) and addressed the group with 3 brilliant presentations.  And she and her sister, Mira, were the most humble, gracious and warm experts I could imagine. Thank you sisters and doctors Shiva for leadership, sustainability, education, modeling the power of women—for poorest rural regions to sophisticated university settings. I am grateful for all of your years of work, your wisdom, your humor amid a landscape of despair and for your encouragement to always see the hope for our future. I feel blessed to live on the same planet with Sisters Shiva.

Who are your inspiration? I invite your comments here and for you to share with me on Twitter or Facebook.