Go Green and Save Green: Earth Day 2011

Friday, April 22 is Earth Day and there are a slew of giveaways and discounts offered to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Incorporate a little green into your family's life with these great local and national deals that will save you some green too:

• FREE Reusable Bag from Target on Sunday, April 17: This bag is not only Earth-friendly, it's also stylish (pictured right). Make a purchase in any amount, and Target will give you a FREE one if you're one of their first million guests on Sunday. Last year, most stores ran out within a few hours, so get your errands in early tomorrow morning.

• 30% Off Earth Day Children's Books at Barnes and Noble Through Wednesday, April 20: Get your kids in a green frame of mind with children's classics like Dr. Seuss' The Lorax.

• Baltimore Green Week: This 8th annual event is going on now through Saturday, April 23. Participate in activities designed for the whole family, like planting veggie gardens and cleaning up local trails.

• $13.95 Credit to thredUp: Sign up for children's clothes swapping service, thredUp, on Earth Day, Friday, April 22, and they'll reward you with a $13.95 credit to thank you for being a part of their upcycling community.

• FREE coffee/tea at Starbucks on Earth Day: Bring in your own travel mug to participating Starbucks on Friday, April 22 and they'll fill it with coffee or tea for FREE!

• FREE Entrance During National Parks Week: April 16-23 is National Parks Week, which coincides perfectly with Spring Break. There's no better way to be green than to get outdoors. Participating Maryland parks include:
  Antietam National Battlefield
  Assateague Island National Seashore
  Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
  Fort McHenry NM and Historic Shrine National Monument
  Fort Washington Park
  Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

• FREE Tree at Lowe's: Add a tree to your spring planting list! Stop by Lowe's on Saturday, April 23. They're giving their first million customers a FREE tree!

• FREE Earth Day Workshops at Home Depot:  Just for the kids -- Earth Day/Easter Planter Basket Craft on Saturday, April 23. Each child gets to keep the planter and receives a Kids Workshop apron with an achievement pin and diploma. For moms -- Do-It-Herself Eco-Friendly Gardening on Thursday, April 20 and Saturday, April 23. For dads too -- Live Green. Save Green on Saturday, April 23.

• Baltimore's Great Cloth Diaper Change on April 23: Help break the Guiness World Record for the number of cloth diapers changed at once!

• Earth Day Greening at Oregon Ridge on Saturday, April 23: Volunteer to help clean up the park, plant trees, and maintain trails from 1-4 p.m.  For more information, call (410) 887-1815.

• FREE Origins Makeup Samples: Here's one just for you, mommas. When you turn in your empty makeup containers to Origins, they'll give you FREE samples of their earth-conscious products.

• FREE Online Earth Day Cards: Spread the word paper free and cost free!  

Throughout the week, I'll keep adding any additional Earth Day deals I come across, so keep checking back!