Welcome to the new nextgengreen!

By Mary Rose Roberts

We are excited to launch our newly designed blog today. Our editorial team worked with the design guru at hello belle studio, located in Chicago, Ill. The studio reworked the blog layout and helped develop the brand mark, an artistic rendition of the tree of life. The tree of life concept has been used in science, religion, philosophy, mythology, and theology to represent the interconnectedness of all life on Earth--an apt representation of the blog's mission of reuse, recycle and renew.  

I started the blog less than a year ago to have a central location to post information—such as healthful recipes, conservation tips and eco-product reviews—where all my friends could access it. And that is still the core of the blog’s mission: Create an online community where people can share ideas on how to reuse, recycle or renew products. This includes how we buy products, the type of products bought, and environmental/social-justice issues associated with consumerism.

We’ve made a lot of changes to the blog to meet this mission statement. A navigation bar has been added so it is easier to quickly find information, including a new tab for People. This area showcases people making a difference by changing their lives or those in their communities. It also highlights people who follow the blog, including product giveaway winners. Look later today for a profile about an islander who won our last giveaway, WIRED earrings. Of course, we will continue to throw in surprise product giveaways often. (You will have only one day to enter so check back with us often to get your chance to win.)

Visit our new About page and find bios of the blog’s contributors, including Food Editor Anna Fischer Wulff and Health Editor Tonya Yancey. Our two contributing bloggers are Nikki Golden, a DIYer and marketing/grammar guru, and Kathy Schrenk, who covers West Coast issues. (For blogging opportunities, visit our Contact page.)

Finally, sponsorship has been added to the right side of the page. Please take a moment to visit the banner ad(s) and tell them nextgengreen sent you!

We love feedback, so let us know what you think of our new look. And thank you for your support.


With love,


Mary Rose