Living Green 2013

According to green-marketing guru Carolyn Parrs, Santa Feans love green. Parrs, who is

in this year’s Green Issue, categorizes consumers according to how committed they are to buying green products: “Light-green” consumers might buy them once in a while; medium-green ones will buy a more eco-friendly product if and when it makes sense; and deep-green shoppers will almost always buy green, “just because they believe in it,” Parrs says. Roughly 19 percent of United States consumers can be classified as deep green, but in Santa Fe, Parrs estimates that “a good 40-50 percent” of local consumers are committed eco-buyers.

That’s a long-winded way of saying that Santa Fe is something of an environmental mecca—and we certainly have the infrastructure to back up that buyer base, with everything from Parrs’ green-marketing business to a fully local

, a vibrant

and our very own

.

Beyond profiling some worthy local businesses and nonprofits—unfortunately, it’s impossible to include them all—the 2013 Green Issue also offers useful information for green consumers, whether it’s

or

you’re after. Finally, check out our

for a list of the many noteworthy environmental events in the offing as we approach Earth Week next month.

In Santa Fe, it’s pretty easy being green.

—Alexa Schirtzinger

The dirt on Santa Fe Community Farm’s 2013 growing season BY MIA ROSE CARBONE

Cracking the code to egg carton labels BY ELLIOTT TELLER

Santa Fe startup keeps biodiesel local BY ALEXA SCHIRTZINGER

Environmental bills in the 2013 legislative session BY STERLING FLUHARTY

Green-marketing guru Carolyn Parrs on doing business in a green economy BY ALEXA SCHIRTZINGER

Earth Care’s youth-driven sustainability BY ALEXA SCHIRTZINGER

A (tongue-in-cheek, all-puns-intended) guide to eco-friendly action BY ROBERT SOBEL

Two survival experts teach you the basics BY ELLIOTT TELLER

Green stuff to do in March and April

BY ALEXA SCHIRTZINGER

Santa Fe Reporter