Green Oklahoma

THE BEST ECO-FRIENDLY BUSINESSES IN OKLAHOMA IN 2026

Lisa Sharp — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:46:31 +0000

Celebrate Earth Day and the best local eco-friendly businesses in Oklahoma by taking part in Green Oklahoma’s Best of 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Oklahoma is full of amazing locally owned businesses that take their commitment to making Oklahoma and the planet a better place seriously. And each year, we take the time on Earth Day to honor these businesses.

Green Oklahoma’s Best of 2026 is a celebration of sustainability and the power of collective action. We want to take the time to shine a spotlight on the people and businesses that are leading by example.

And that’s why we’re excited to announce that voting has now started for Green Oklahoma’s Best of 2026 awards!

The Best Eco-Friendly Businesses in Oklahoma in 2026

Thanks to everyone for your nominations and votes. Be sure to check out all of the winners and show them some love. Our local small businesses need support now more than ever.

Best Retail Store: Re:Supply
Runner-up: Plenty Mercantile

Best Restaurant: The Earth Cafe
Runner-up: The Loaded Bowl

Best Bakery: Feral Dough Company
Runner-up: Holey Rollers Donuts

Best Farm: Re:Farm
Runner-up: Bachman Family Farms

Best Grocery Store/Farmers Market: Farmers Market at Scissortail Park
Runner-up: Urban Agrarian

Best Service: Fertile Ground
Runner-up: 2 Green Chicks

Best Non-Profit: OKC Beautiful
Runner-up: Keep Oklahoma Beautiful

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads to keep up with the latest environmental news in Oklahoma and learn more about living a more eco-friendly life.

GET A FREE ECO-FRIENDLY LIVING GUIDE

Don’t let Earth Day be the only day you think about your impact. Get the free Green Oklahoma Eco-Friendly Living Guide to find more ways to reduce your impact and live a more eco-friendly life.

PAST GREEN OKLAHOMA’S READER’S CHOICE AWARD WINNERS

Want to see which eco-friendly Oklahoma businesses have won over the past 13 years of awards? Here are all of the winners.

Virtual Earth Day Events in 2026

Lisa Sharp — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:59:28 +0000

Celebrate Earth Day from anywhere with virtual Earth Day Events in 2026. From informative webinars to interactive workshops, join the global movement from the comfort of your home.

Earth Day, observed annually on April 22nd, marks a significant global initiative dedicated to environmental awareness and action. Originating in 1970, Earth Day has evolved into a worldwide phenomenon, with diverse events spanning various regions and cultures. This year’s official theme, “Our Power, Our Planet.”

Despite the widespread availability of Earth Day events, including many Earth Day events in Oklahoma, attending may not always be feasible due to location constraints or personal circumstances. Fortunately, the digital age offers a wide selection of virtual Earth Day events.

We’ve compiled a curated list of virtual Earth Day events happening this year. So, mark your calendar and lets celebrate Earth Day together virtually!

Virtual Earth Day Events in 2026

These are all events happening on April 22 unless otherwise noted. Be sure to visit the event pages for times and more information on attending the events.

Stand Up for Science Virtual & Accessible Earth Day Rally

Defend our planet and save our science at a virtual, accessible and inclusive Earth Day Rally, organized by Stand Up for Science.

Earth Day: Wild About Earth!

“Get ready to go wild for our planet! Join us online for Earth Day: Wild About Earth! and celebrate all the amazing ways we can protect and cherish Mother Nature. Expect fun activities, inspiring stories, and cool tips to make every day a little greener. Whether you’re a nature lover or just curious, this event is for you. So grab your favorite snacks, get comfy, and let’s make some eco-friendly memories together!”

A Case of Mistaken Identity: Blacktip and Spinner Shark Migrations (April 21)

“This event is part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)’s free evening science talks, and it will be recorded!”

More events will be added soon!

Beyond these virtual Earth Day events, you can embrace Earth Day’s spirit in many ways on your own. From planting trees and gardening to reducing waste and conserving energy, there are countless ways to make a meaningful impact on our planet. You will also find a lot of fun Earth Day ideas right here on Green Oklahoma.

Earth Day Events in Oklahoma 2026

Lisa Sharp — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:50:10 +0000

Celebrate Earth Day 2026 with these great Earth Day events in Oklahoma and Earth Day at home celebration ideas. There is something for everyone.

Every year on April 22nd we celebrate Earth Day. It’s a day to come together and take action on climate change and work to protect our planet.

It’s also a great time to celebrate all that earth has to offer. You can do both of these things at Earth Day events in Oklahoma and around the world. There are even ways for you to celebrate and take action at home.

We’ve got a list of events you can attend in Oklahoma as well as activities and events to enjoy from home. Together we can help make Oklahoma a little bit better this Earth Day!

Earth Day Events in Oklahoma

These are some events happening around the state for Earth Day. You can also join our Facebook group Green Living in Oklahoma to stay up-to-date on Earth Day events and other happenings around the state.

As we are still in a pandemic we encourage everyone to stay home if they feel sick, wear masks indoors, stay up-to-date on vaccines, and let’s take care of our community as we take care of our earth.

5th Annual Earth Day at Chandler Park

April 10th in Tulsa

Join the Oklahoma Recycling Association for a fun day of celebrating the planet.

Get more information about Earth Day at Chandler Park.

Midwest City Earth Day Resource Fair

April 18th in Midwest City

Enjoy food trucks, prize giveaways, and fun activities for all ages.

Get more information about Midwest City Earth Resource Fair.

OKC Beautiful Earth Fest

April 18th in Oklahoma City

Celebrate Earth Day with the community! Earth Fest will have vendors, live music, classes, giveaways, and more.

Get more information on Earth Fest.

Something to Grow About

April 18th in Pawnee

The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host family-friendly activities on Saturday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in celebration of Earth Day on April 22. “Something to Grow About” will feature a native plant/seed exchange, interactive gardening workshops, and much more.

Get more information about Something to Grow About.

University of Central Oklahoma Green Week

April 19th- April 24th in Edmond

The University of Central Oklahoma Sustainability Center is proud to invite the Broncho community to a week of activities to remind us to take care of our earth.

Get more information about UCO’s Green Week.

27th Annual Enviro Expo at Guthrie Green

April 22nd in Tulsa

Musicians, food trucks, giveaways and more all put on by The MET.

Get more information about the Enviro Expo at Guthrie Green.

OSU Earth Day Celebration

April 22nd in Stillwater

Celebrate Earth Day with an afternoon of sustainability, community, and campus involvement! This event is a great opportunity to learn about environmentally focused initiatives on campus and in the Stillwater community, connect with local organizations, and celebrate Earth Day on its official date. Free and open to the public!

Get more information on OSU’s Earth Day Celebration.

Chickasaw Nation Earth Day Recycling Event

April 24th in Ada

The following items will be accepted for recycling: e-waste, tires, paper (five box limit), Styrofoam, cardboard, aluminum, tin cans, plastics labeled # 1-2 and TVs.

Get more information about the Chickasaw Nation Recycling Event.

Party for the Planet

April 25th in Tulsa

Party for the Planet is North America’s largest combined Earth Day celebration with more than 120 zoos and aquariums across the country participating. Discover what Tulsa Zoo and their conservation partners are doing to conserve and protect wildlife with specialty keeper chats from their animal care experts.

Get more information on the Party for the Planet.

Durant Earth Day Festival

April 25th in Durant

Join the Durant Sustainability Coalition (DSC) for a fun, family-friendly Earth Day Festival celebrating sustainability, community, and the power we have to protect our planet together.

Get more information on the Durant Earth Day Festival.

Norman’s Earth Day Festival

April 26th in Norman

This beloved community event celebrates sustainability, education, and local action, bringing together families, educators, activists, and neighbors who care about our planet.

Get more information on Norman’s Earth Day Festival.

More Recycling Events in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Recycling Association has a great list of recycling events happening around EarthDay. Be sure to check it out and save your spring cleaning items to take to one of these events.

Have an event to add to this list? Email us at info@greenokla.com

Celebrating Earth Day at Home

Can’t celebrate Earth Day at an in-person event? Don’t worry, there are many things you can do from home to celebrate and take action.

We’ve got some resources to help you plan your own Earth Day at-home celebration. And remember it’s Earth Month so you can celebrate all month long.

Virtual Earth Day Events– There are many virtual Earth Day events happening this year as well.
Earth Day Crafts– Fun crafts you can do to learn about the planet and celebrate Earth Day.
30 Free Earth Day Activities for Kids– Teach your kids about Earth Day with fun and free Earth Day activities for kids. There are activities for kids of all ages and there are plenty to keep them busy all day.
Earth Day Books for Kids– Help your kids learn about Earth Day and our planet with these Earth Day Books for kids. They are perfect for reading aloud as a family and starting conversations.
Take Action– The Earth Day organization has some great ways to take action this Earth Day. There are things people of all ages can do.
Celebrate Your Favorite Eco-Friendly Businesses– Nominate and vote for your favorite local businesses for our Best of 2026. It only takes a minute and it can help get the word out about your favorite businesses.

Get a Free Earth Day Activity Book

A really fun way to celebrate at home is with this Earth Day activity book. You can download it for free and enjoy it with your family.

Looking for even more to do for Earth Day? Check out the Green Living in Oklahoma Facebook Group!

Natural Cleaners You Can Make Yourself

Lisa Sharp — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:33:15 +0000

Making your own DIY natural cleaners isn’t hard and can save you a lot of money! It also gives you control over the ingredients.

This post was originally shared in January 2017 and has been updated to have accurate links and information.

Conventional cleaners often contain ingredients that can be harmful. Many of the ingredients are endocrine disrupters, which can cause adverse reproductive, neurological developmental and immune effects. These risks are especially high during prenatal and early postnatal development.

Making your own cleaners allows you to have control over the ingredients. It can also save you money. Buying the ingredients may cost a bit in the beginning but once you have the supplies on hand you can make these cleaners for less than you are spending now, in most cases.

When shopping for the ingredients check locally owned businesses first but if you can’t find what you need a great place to buy your homemade cleaner ingredients is Thrive Market.

There are many great homemade cleaners out there to try. Pinterest has endless options. These are just a few that use really good ingredients and are great products.

Homemade Natural Cleaners You Can Make

These homemade natural cleaners feature simple ingredients and can often be made to fit your needs.

Photo Credit: retrohousewifegoesgreen.com

Homemade Daily Shower Cleaner

This daily shower spray will help keep your shower clean and fresh with a lot less scrubbing!

Photo Credit: brendid.com

HOMEMADE DISH DETERGENT FOR HAND WASHING

Learn two simple ways to make liquid dish detergent that are cheap and effective.

Photo Credit: www.frugallyblonde.com

DIY Dusting Spray

Make your own dusting spray without harmful chemicals using just 3 simple ingredients that is safe to use on all wood surfaces, including your treasured wood furniture.

Photo Credit: mommypotamus.com

Homemade Soft Scrub Recipe

This DIY soft scrub is perfect for use on ceramic surfaces, kitchen sinks, grout, just about anywhere with soap scum, countertops (except granite), and more.

Photo Credit: retrohousewifegoesgreen.com

Toilet Cleaner Tabs

Toss a toilet cleaning tab in your toilet to keep it smelling fresh and make cleaning easy.

Photo Credit: retrohousewifegoesgreen.com

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

This simple laundry detergent is made using soap nuts! it works great and uses just two ingredients.

Photo Credit: brendid.com

Fresh Lemon Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

This Fresh Lemon Homemade Dishwasher Detergent uses real lemons, salt and vinegar to make liquid dishwasher detergent that is effective and non-toxic.

Photo Credit: retrohousewifegoesgreen.com

DIY Color Safe Bleach

Looking for a natural color safe bleach option? Homemade color safe bleach works great and only contains two ingredients.

Photo Credit: retrohousewifegoesgreen.com

Natural Disinfectant Spray

A great natural way to disinfectant without harsh chemicals.

Photo Credit: www.mom4real.com

Homemade Toilet Cleaner - Liquid Version

This Homemade Toilet Cleaner is a great alternative to harsh, chemical filled toilet cleansers. It's great for deep cleaning toilets and will leave them disinfected and deodorized.

Photo Credit: retrohousewifegoesgreen.com

Citrus Refrigerator Deodorizer

Tired of a smelly refrigerator? Try this citrus refrigerator deodorizer. It’s easy to make and will leave your fridge smelling amazing.

Photo Credit: helloglow.co

DIY Citrus Fresh All-Natural Floor Cleaner

Mix up a batch of this all-natural floor cleaner for squeaky clean, disinfected floors.

Photo Credit: brendid.com

All-Natural Homemade Stain Remover for Laundry

This All-Natural Homemade Stain Remover for Laundry makes a powerful stain fighter and laundry pre-treater that you can feel safe using in your home.

Photo Credit: retrohousewifegoesgreen.com

Homemade Lemon Soft Scrub

All-natural lemon soft scrub is a great product for cleaning many surfaces in your home. It’s also very safe to use around your kids and pets.

Photo Credit: retrohousewifegoesgreen.com

Citrus Fresh Air Freshener

Making your own air freshener is a great alternative. If you want something fresh and uplifting this citrus fresh air freshener is perfect!

Photo Credit: brendid.com

How to Make Scented Vinegar for Cleaning

Interested in natural cleaners and green living? Learn how to make scented vinegar for cleaning. It’s an affordable and easy way to update your cleaning routine.

Photo Credit: www.remodelaholic.com

DIY Bathroom Cleaner

This simple bathroom cleaner can be whipped up in no time.

Photo Credit: retrohousewifegoesgreen.com

Trash Can Deodorizer Tabs

Do you have a smelly trash can? Try these trash can deodorizer tabs. They are easy to make and work really well. You can even change up the scents.

Photo Credit: mommypotamus.com

All-Purpose Cleaner With Lemon & Lavender

This DIY all-purpose spray smells amazing and works really well on many surfaces.

If you are just getting started or like a more simple approach you can clean most things with castile soap, baking soda, or vinegar. Keeping these ingredients on hand is a great start. They are also featured in many of the recipes above.

Looking for more green cleaning tips? Check out Cleaning with Essential Oils.

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Top Tips for Reducing Food Waste

Lisa Sharp — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 10:49:07 +0000

Food waste is a big problem that is costing us a lot of money and is bad for our planet. These are some of the top tips for reducing food waste.

In the US, 30-40% of the food supply is wasted! That’s more than 20 pounds of food per person, per month. Not only does that waste contribute to pollution, but it also wastes us a lot of money.

Things like meal planning, labeling, and dating leftovers, planning your shopping trips, and even once-a-month grocery shopping can help prevent food waste.

There are so many other great tips to help you reduce food waste. Below are some bloggers’ top tips. They are sure to help you stop the food waste and save money.

Top Tips for Reducing Food Waste

Making Produce Last

Making Lettuce Last: We’ve all had lettuce go bad. Sometimes it seems like the day after you bring it home, it’s already going bad. Victoria at A Modern Homestead used to deal with this issue, but not anymore. She learned a tip that can help keep lettuce fresh for up to 5 weeks.

How to Store Produce: Merissa at Little House Living shares a lot of great tips for helping make your produce last. Produce is something that gets wasted a lot because of improper storage, so be sure you are storing it correctly

Keeping Guacamole Green: It’s never fun to be craving guacamole and go to the fridge and find it brown and gross. Paula at Dinner with the Rollos finds the secret to keeping guacamole green longer, and it’s simple!

Using Soft Apples: No one likes a soft apple, but don’t throw them out just yet. Habiba from Craftify My Life has an apple sauce recipe for using up old apples.

Keeping Cut Fruit Fresh: What about once you have cut fresh fruit, can you still keep it fresh? Yes, there are ways to prolong the life of cut fresh fruit as well. Kim at Two Kids and a Coupon has great tips for keeping cut fruit fresh.

Freezing Food

Freezing Cookies and Desserts: All food waste is bad, but there is something extra sad about throwing away desserts that have gone bad. Thankfully, Jennifer at The Jenny Evolution has tips on freezing cookies and desserts.

Freezing Candy: End up with too much candy? The Stress-Free Christmas tells us how to freeze candy for later.

Freezing Kiwi: Did you know you can also freeze kiwi? Stock up when they are in season and freeze them for smoothies later. Pam at Sidewalk Shoes shares an easy way to freeze kiwi.

More Foods You Can Freeze: Head over to Retro Housewife Goes Green for a huge list of foods you can freeze and how to do so properly.

Using Your Scraps

Using Citrus Peels: You don’t even have to waste your citrus peels. They are great for cleaning your garbage disposal. Over on Retro Housewife Goes Green, you can learn how to deep clean your garbage disposal with citrus peels.

Using Old Lemons: You can also use lemons that are past their prime for cleaning. Bren at Bren Did has 15 all-natural homemade lemon cleaning products that are perfect for those lemons you need to use up.

Another way to prevent wasting lemons and limes is by juicing them and freezing the juice. Kalyn at Kalyn’s Kitchen shares how to properly freeze fresh lemon and lime juice. She also has great tips for freezing fresh basil.

Using Garlic Scapes: Garlic scapes are a food that is often wasted before we can ever end up with it. They are often cut off to allow the garlic bulb to grow larger. If you garden or can find some at a farmers’ market, Ellen at Confessions of an Overworked Mom has some tips for preserving garlic scapes.

More Helpful Resources

Want more ways to save on food? Here are some other articles to check out.

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How to Recycle Your E-Waste and Why Electronic Recycling is Important

Lisa Sharp — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 11:00:22 +0000

Electronic recycling is important to help us keep e-waste out of landfills. If you aren’t sure what e-waste recycling is or where you can recycle e-waste we can help.

These days we all have a lot of electronics and with technology advancing quickly we have a lot of turnover for our electronics. Everything from phones to TVs are now upgraded at a rate we’ve never seen.

So what happens to all of our old devices that we are no longer using? This discarded technology, known as electronic waster or e-waste, is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. Unfortunately, much of it is still ending up in our landfills. This causes serious environmental and health risks.

Why Electronic Recycling is Important

E-waste often contains hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, flame retardants, and more. When it’s not properly recycled, these toxic chemicals can leach into the soil and groundwater, harming ecosystems and risking human health.

On the flip side, electronics contain valuable materials like gold, copper, and aluminum which can be recycled and reused in new products. This not only keeps harmful chemicals out of our landfills but also can help reduce the need for mining new materials.

Recycling e-waste is good for the planet, for our health, and for our economy.

How to Recycle E-Waste Near You

No matter where you live in the United States there is likely e-waste recycling nearby. You can first check with your local city to see if they offer e-waste recycling. If not these are some national retailers that offer e-waste recycling.

Retail Drop-Off Locations

Best Buy – Accepts TVs, computers, printers, phones, and more. They have both drop-off and mail-in options. Check out their website for more details.
Staples – Recycles computers, monitors, keyboards, phones, batteries, and so much more. They also offer points for recycling items. You can find more details on their website.
Amazon – Offers a mail-in program for devices like Kindles, Fire TVs, and phones. They have more details on their website.
Gazelle- You can sell phones and some other devices back to Gazelle if they are still working. Learn more on their website.

More Resources

These sites are good places to look for more e-waste recycling options near you.

Earth911 – Enter your zip code and the item to find nearby recycling centers.
Call2Recycle – Specializes in rechargeable batteries and cell phones, with thousands of drop-off sites.
e-Stewards – Locate certified recyclers committed to ethical and environmentally sound e-waste recycling.

E-Waste Recycling in Oklahoma

For those living here in Oklahoma, the state has many great options outside of the options given above. Many cities offer annual events to drop of e-waste and hazardous waste.

Check with your local city to find out if there are drop-offs or events. You can also check for locations on the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality website.

Another good resource for all kinds of recycling in Oklahoma is the Oklahoma Recycling Association. They are committed to helping bring more recycling to Oklahomans.

Oklahoma E-Waste Laws

Oklahoma has laws in place to help promote e-waste recycling and protect Oklahomans from the harm that comes from letting e-waste collect in our landfills. These laws include:

Oklahoma Computer Equipment Recovery Act (OCERA) – Requires manufacturers to provide free recycling for computers and monitors. Many offer mail-back options or partner drop-off locations. Learn more on the Oklahoma DEQ site.
Advanced Recycling Legislation (SB 448) – Passed in 2021, this law supports advanced recycling technology and aims to grow the state’s recycling economy. The law itself is focused on plastic recycling but will likely add more recycling options for Oklahomans in general. Learn more on Recycling Today.

What You Can Do Today to Help with the E-Waste Problem

Find your local recycling options by using the resources in this article.
Participate in local collection events.
Choose retailers with established recycling programs.
Avoid dumping electronics in the trash, even small items add up.
Share this post with friends to help them start recycling e-waste.

By taking a few extra steps, we can reduce the environmental cost of our digital lives. E-waste isn’t just a landfill issue, it’s a community, economic, and environmental one. Together, we can turn waste into opportunity.

The Best Eco-Friendly Businesses in Oklahoma in 2025

Lisa Sharp — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 10:44:23 +0000

Celebrate Earth Day and the best local eco-friendly businesses in Oklahoma by taking part in Green Oklahoma’s Best of 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Green Oklahoma’s Best of 2025 is more than just an awards program, it’s a celebration of sustainability and a testament to the power of collective action. By shining a spotlight on those who are leading by example, we hope to inspire others to take meaningful steps towards a more sustainable future.

The Best Eco-Friendly Businesses in Oklahoma in 2025

Best Retail Store: Tulsa General Store
Runner-up: A Wilde Collective

Best Restaurant: Elote
Runner-up: The Earth Cafe

Best Bakery: Slate Sourdough
Runner-up: Katiebug’s Sip & Sweets

Best Farm: Prairie Creek Farms
Runner-up: Bachman Family Farms

Best Grocery Store/Farmers Market: Farm Hippie Farmers Market
Runner-up: Farmers Market at Scissortail Park

Best Service: 2 Green Chicks
Runner-up: Fertile Ground

Best Non-Profit: Okies for Monarchs
Runner-up: OKC Beautiful

Thanks to everyone for your nominations and votes. Be sure to check out all of the winners and show them some love. Our local small businesses need support now more than ever.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads to keep up with the latest environmental news in Oklahoma and learn more about living a more eco-friendly life.

GET A FREE ECO-FRIENDLY LIVING GUIDE

Don’t let Earth Day be the only day you think about your impact. Get the free Green Oklahoma Eco-Friendly Living Guide to find more ways to reduce your impact and live a more eco-friendly life.

PAST GREEN OKLAHOMA’S READER’S CHOICE AWARD WINNERS

Want to see which eco-friendly Oklahoma businesses have won over the past 12 years of awards? Here are all of the winners.

The Best Earth Day Books for Kids

Lisa Sharp — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 10:40:35 +0000

Help your kids learn about Earth Day and our planet with these Earth Day Books for kids. They are perfect for reading aloud as a family and starting conversations.

One of the best ways to teach kids why we need to take care of our planet is through reading. Around Earth Day is a wonderful time to pull out some environmental-themed books and start talking about the environment and what we can do to protect it.

There are so many great Earth Day books out there for kids it can be hard to know where to get started. This list of 20 books is a good starting point and all are great options for reading aloud as a family.

We recommend buying these books from your local bookstore. If you are in the Oklahoma City area we highly recommend our friends at The Floating Bookshop. You can also find other independent bookstores in Oklahoma from New Pages.

If you don’t have an independent bookstore near you or can’t find these titles be sure to shop from Bookshop.org. All of the links in our list will take you to Bookshop.org and also help support Green Oklahoma.

The Best Earth Day Books for Kids