In honor of Earth Month, Whole Foods Market in Memphis wants to share 30 days of GREEN! Simple tips will be posted daily from March 23rd through April 22nd to show you ways to GO GREEN and SAVE GREEN!

Money Saving TIPS!

Monday, March 23rd

Don't let those fresh fruits and veggies go bad! They are an important part of a healthy diet. Use special bags for storing produce that allow ripening gases to escape and extend the life of your fruits and vegetables! Waste less, spend less! Debbie Myers Green Bags are available in the produce department and work wonders!

 Tuesday, March 24th

 Frozen fruits and vegetables are a great value with no waste and high nutrient content. Go organic for high quality without the chemical pesticides! Our 365 Organic brand offers great value and top quality 365 Days a year

 Wednesday, March 25th

 Shop Local and in season. Shopping local not only supports the community, you save on transportation costs as well! Shopping in season assures a large selection of fresh quality items at a lower cost.Food grown in season takes less energy and resources to produce! And it's great for your body! See what's in season in our produce & seafood departments. Check out our local vendors including Ophelia Snodgrass Apothecary, Delta Pecans and new Kalli's Baklava!

Thursday, March 26th

Check for meat & seafood that is in season and on sale! Use a fresh portion for a healthy dinner, and freeze the rest for later use when you are in a pinch! Whole Foods Market offers volume discounts on meat and seafood in our coolers! High quality at a great cost!

 Friday, March 27th

Audit your pantry and keep it full of simple staples (Pick up our stock the pantry checklist to help!) Then, plan your meals weekly. Know what you need before you shop to save in the store. When meal planning, plan for duel food features to save dough! Tuesdays Eggplant Parmesan can double as Fridays Ratatouille! Wednesdays steaks can be Thursdays Beef stew! Pick ingredients that you can use in different meals, or leftovers that can be remade! Search the website www.wholefoodsmarket.com for great budget recipes and meal planning!

 Saturday, March 28th

Plan a swap and shop night! A fun way to get together with friends! Plan an evening to swap recipes & coupons! Decide what you use collectively and share a 10% case discount at our store! Make it a potluck, and have a delicious buffet of food for the price of one dish.

Sunday, March 29th

Herbs are delicious, and no doubt and integral part of summer cooking! And fresh herbs harness the best flavor. But buying fresh herbs can be a costly addition to a recipe, and often, only a few tablespoons are needed from the bunch. So with the weather warming up- grow your own! Herbs are hearty and easy to grow. Instead of picking up prepack fresh herbs, pick up an organic potted herb plant and have fresh herbs all year long! Dry the leftovers and use for up tp 6 months!

Monday, March 30th

Pick up "The Whole Deal!" Want to save money? This is an amazing tool to show you how. First, it is packed with coupons! Second, each page is full of great recipes for eating on a budget without sacrificing quality! And lastly, it is full of tips about quick ways to save money, eat healthy and have fun while doing both!

Tuesday, March 31st

The best way to get all your nutrients is to eat a perfectly balanced diet. But in a busy world, we don't always have the time! Taking a multivitamin can be a great addition to your diet, but you don't want to break the bank doing it! Our 365 One a Day vitamins are amazing! You only need to take ONE A DAY! They are in custom formulas for Men, Women, Adult, Mature, Pre-natal, and children. Prices range from $9.99-$32.99, and a bottle is a 6 month supply! That breaks down to 8¢-18¢ a day! What a steal!

Wednesday, April 1st

Think in portions, not pounds. Did you know our meat, specialty & seafood departments are happy to cut meat, fish and cheese to any portion size you need? This will help when shopping for your family or an entertaining event! Get familiar with portion sizes, and reduce waste in your home. Have a pound cut in to four 4oz portions, so you can use what you need and freeze the rest in ready to go sizes! Only need a few ounces of cheese for your recipe? See a specialty team member and get just what you need.

Thursday, April 2nd

Save the great oil for when it counts. Often cooking methods cause oils to lose their subtle flavors, or scorch over high heat. Use less expensive oils for cooking, such as high heat canola oil, and save the extra virgin olive oil for dishes that will utilize it's wonderful flavor, such as salads, dips and food that needs a "drizzle" to finish. This will reduce cost in your kitchen!

Friday, April 3rd

It's Friday night! Spend time with your family without spending time in the kitchen. Whole Foods Market offers fresh, all natural value meals at a great price! Feed for for just $14.99! Just heat, serve and enjoy!

Saturday, April 4th

Water your garden early in the morning! The morning hours stays damp allowing the water to soak in to your garden and lawn. If you water at night, you are more prone to mold, and if you water in the afternoon, the sun will evaporate all the water before your garden gets what it needs! Use rain barrels to utilize rain water and be without any water waste!

Sunday, April 5th

Have a phone book? Don't need another? With the internet, it's easy to go paperless. Go to www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org and stop automatically receiving phone books! Just jump online when you need a new one and they will send one your way, only when you need it!

Monday, April 6th

Save on gas! Ride a bike! If you don't have a bike, here is an amazing way to get one with a little money and a little bit of elbow grease! Revolutions is a community bike shop www.revolutionsmemphis.com that allows you to volunteer in the bike shop! Learn basic bike maintenance and building, and help the community go green! The great part? You can leave with a bike of your own! Volunteer 10 hours and get a bike for $40. Accordingly, the price drops every 10 hours you volunteer! Volunteer 70 hours and get a bike for free! Great for you and your family!!

Tuesday, April 7th

Turn off the Tube. Shut off the computer. Doing these two things on a regular basis will help save energy in your home, and create time for you to do things you love with your friends and family. This will also help curb spending that is enticed by TV commercials & Internet ads!

Wednesday, April 8th

Cut the convenience. Too often we run around in a frenzy and sacrifice a great meal for something convenient we can pop in the microwave. But those convenience foods come at a higher cost, to your wallet and to your body! Start planning an at home, sit down meal at least three times a week to save on your bill, and fill your body with wholesome foods! Though it may not be as fast as the microwave, cooking doesn't have to be an all day process! There are plenty of great recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less that are packed full of vitamins and minerals! Go all natural and organic, and check out the recipes on our mainpage www.wholefoods.com/recipes  It's sure to please!

Thursday, April 9th

Clean the air filter in your car! A clean air filter can improve your gas mileage by up to 7%, saving you more than $100 for every 10,000 miles you drive in an average vehicle.And it's simple to do!

Friday, April 10th

Shop the flyer. Ours comes out every Wednesday, and you will see great sales all over the store. You can download a version from our store page www.wholefoods.com/stores/poplar and make your list from home. Plan meals based on the biggest sale items and go from there. Make it a shopping habit and save hundreds of dollars a year! This is a great way to get creative with your meals! Plan time to get some great recipes based on sale items and spice up your dinner table whole saving some green!

Saturday, April 11th

How about feeding 6 a delicious Easter meal for only $19.99? You simply can't beat the price, and the quality is unparalleled. All natural ham, delicious sides and an Easter cake! Stop in the store and pick up our Easter Value Meal today!

Sunday, April 12th

Give gifts made with love, not purchased with lots of money! Making gifts can save lots of dough and create a lasting impression with your recipient! A homemade bread and recipe card, fresh baked cookies or something crafty made from stuff around the house! Making your own cards will not only save you money, but will create quite an impression with your gift. It will likely be cherished for much longer then a conventional card bought at a store!

Monday, April 13th

Start preparing for your spring cleaning by going through your closets. Gather old clothing, shoes, toys, outdoor gear- all the things collecting dust and put them in a garage sale! You can sell them on the Internet for even higher return, or simply donate them to a local charity. It's a great tax write off at the end of the year! This will create some money in your life, and give you a great feeling of renewal in your home!

Earth Saving TIPS!

Monday, March 23rd

Reuse your shopping bags! Reusing your shopping bags not only reduces environmental impact, but we give you 10¢ back for every bag you use! Remember to park at the end of the parking lot to add a little exercise to your day! Buy our better bags made from recycled plastic bottles. They are 79¢-99¢ , and as durable as they are adorable!

 Tuesday, March 24th

Shop the bulk bins for all your pantry staples. Save packaging on grains, beans, cereals, pastas and snacks. The best part, the money you'll save! No packaging, less cost! Bring in your own containers and save 10¢ on your order!

 Wednesday, March 25th

Quit using single serve water bottles. On average, 38 billion water bottles end up in a landfill each year (2006-present). Get a water filter or refill dispenser jug and fill up in the store. You'll save tons of money with a lot less waste! Only 39¢ a gallon for our filtered reverse osmosis water, imagine the space you can save in a landfill and the cash you can save in your wallet!

 Thursday, March 26th

Try "Meatless Mondays". Eliminating meat once a week can help the environment! Reducing meat consumption and the support of poor farming practices can reduce water consumption, land degradation and even world hunger! Beans are a delicious, powerful form of protein that can make a hearty meal without the meat! Great for your heart, great for the earth and great for your wallet! Rest assured that the meat you buy from Whole Foods Market has to meet our high quality standards! Our meat is all natural, and is produced on farms that practice sustainable agriculture for a better tomorrow!

 Friday, March 27th

Buy organic. Organic food isn't just delicious and free of chemical pesticides, it's a way of promoting sustainable agriculture and preserving our environment. Organic food and cotton is raised without the use of chemical pesticides and unnatural fertilizers that seep into our ground water and soil. Natural fertilizers, pest control and techniques like crop rotation ensure that the land will be fertile and fresh for generations to come!

 Saturday, March 28th

Saving the earth isn't just about the environment, it's about culture and community as well. Today you can support the Whole Planet Foundation www.wholeplanetfoundation.org which offers microloans to the impoverished in developing nations. These microloans allow families to create a life changing business that will sustain them and help build their community. One community at a time, we can eliminate poverty in the world. Today we are hosting a giving grill from 12pm-4pm where you can buy delicious food or bid on original artwork to support the cause. All proceeds will benefit The Whole Planet Foundation! Full loan donations ($200 or more) will fund an entire microloan for an entrepreneur, and as a thank you, Whole Foods Market will give you a reusable shopping bag full of wonderful Whole Trade products!

Sunday, March 29th

Yesterday, the world hosted earth hour at which time everyone was asked to cut off electric for one hour. But don't save electric for just one hour of the year! Encourage lights out by hosting candlelight energy parties! Ask all of your guests to cut off their electric before they come spend the evening with you. Host a delicious dinner party under candlelight to conserve energy. The perfect entree? Fresh grilled food of course! Check out the recipes on our website for everything from grilled appetizers to dessert! Delicious, fun, and of course, great for the earth!

Monday, March 30th

Harness the power of rain in your garden! Our regionally produced rain barrels collect rain water to use for your lawn and garden! Your hose attaches directly to the barrel! Did you know that 1" of rain on 1000 square foot roof can collect 623 gallons of water? Conserve water and use what nature gives us! These barrels are available in our garden center!

Tuesday, March 31st

 Use organic compost in your garden! Farmer D in Georgia takes all of the compostable waste from Whole Foods Market stores in the south and turns it in to rich, hearty compost for your gardens! The process saves over 44,000 pounds of waste from a landfill each year, and creates an amazing cycle of reusing and reducing! Purchase Farmer D compost in our store, and support regional farmers! This is a win win situation!

Wednesday, April 1st

Think ahead seven generations. Are you doing your part to preserve the earth for the future generations? Save trees by buying 100% recycled paper products from Whole Foods Market and Seventh Generation. In 2008, the sale of Seventh Generation helped save 725,000 gallons of petroleum, enough for 1228 cars for one year! Think tissues, toilet paper, papertowels, napkins and even paper plates!

Thursday, April 2nd

Eat in Season! Support Local! Eating in season is great for your body and for the earth! Food grown in season uses less energy and resources to produce. Buying food from local farmers reduces fuel consumption for shipping, reduces cost, and helps build the community! See what's local and in season in our produce department!

Friday, April 3rd

Poor fishing and fish farming practices can cause water pollution, toxicity and other negative impacts on the environment. Whole Foods Market is proud to boast about out high aquaculture standards! We prohibit the use of antibiotics, growth hormones, or mammalian by-products in feed. We do not carry any genetically modified or cloned seafood, and our standards require producers to minimize the impacts of fish farming on the environment by protecting sensitive habitats and monitoring water quality to prevent pollution! Shop our seafood department and feel good about what you eat!

Saturday, April 4th

Take note of the little things. Many of us use notebooks and pencils for our homes, our offices and our kids! But by recycling old notes, and buying only 100% recycled notebooks and pencils, we can stop the use of new trees for our little notes. Brands such as New Leaf offer recycled notebooks and pencils in all sizes! Think about it next time you need to jot something down

Sunday, April 5th

Spring has sprung! It's time to weed the flowerbeds, fertilize the lawn and plant some flowers. Instead of grabbing the chemical fertilizers and weed killers for your home, go all natural and organic for your home and our earth! All of the chemicals we use outside have the potential to seep into our groundwater and contaminate our soil. Green fertilizers and weed killers use all natural ingredients that are just as effective but with less harmful side effects! See our floral department for products and tips!

Monday, April 6th

Your laundry load can last much longer then you think! Many conventional detergents take up to 72 years to break down once they reach our groundwater! Most natural detergents have a half life of just 6 months, then they naturally break down without the heavy chemicals that many conventional cleaners contain. Available for HE washes and regular washers in lovely scents or free and clear for sensitive skin!

Tuesday, April 7th

Host a community green group! Start one at your work or around your block. Get together to discuss ways to green our community, workspaces and even homes! Just a few folks can make a big impact. You can clean up the road, plant a community garden, or volunteer your time at wonderful places such as Shelby Farms Park Alliance or The Memphis Botanic Garden! Share tips on green cleaners, recycled paper products and ways to save energy in your home. Fun and educational!

Wednesday, April 8th

Start a compost in your yard! Modern compost churners make composting fast, easy and mess free! Many people complain that composting has an unpleasant odor, that it attracts rodents, and is hard to maintain. But compost churners make it easy! These barrels are on a crank and tightly enclosed, so you can fill with your non-animal food scraps and compost away! No mess, no smell, just fresh rich compost for your garden!

Thursday, April 9th

Spring time means deep cleaning and household repair. This year, use water-based or vegetable-based paints, stains, and varnishes. Make sure you don't  wash paint thinners, household cleaners, or chemical pesticides down the drain! And don't dump them in the yard! Use them up if you can, share with friends if you have extra or dispose at the local toxic waste disposal center.

Friday, April 10th

Energize your gadgets with rechargeable batteries. Americans throw away over 84,000 TONS of alkaline batteries every year. These not only take up space in a landfill, they run the risk of leaking mercury and other toxic elements in to our environment.  Rechargeable batteries are a simple solution! They can be recharged up to 1,000 times. One rechargeable battery can replace up to 300 throwaway batteries, keeping the landfill free not only from the batteries themselves, but also from the paper and plastic materials that are used to package them.

Saturday, April 11th

Invest in a Hybrid. We are all thinking about the future, and if you are in the market for a car, a hybrid saves you money and saves the planet too! Come in the store today from 11am-5pm and test drive a Subaru Hybrid! See if it's the car for you! Test drivers receive a Whole Foods Market gift card, so you can pick up some delicious fare after your drive!

Sunday, April 12th

Easter is a holiday usually spent with family. We often give gifts of candy, sweets, or flowers to the ones we love. This year, consider buying something plantable to give to the earth as you give to your family! A sapling, a blueberry bush or a daffodil, all will help nurture the soil and create rich oxygen for the air. It's also a gift that will give year after year! See our garden center for wonderful organic plants, flowers and trees! Don't forget the organic compost!

Monday, April 13th

Recycle your old fridge! Recycling a fridge made before 1993 with an energy-star qualified model will lower your utility bills and help your food remain fresher for longer! Enter to win a BOSCH Evolution refrigerator on the main page at www.wholefoodsmarket.com/earthmonth