Skyscraper Farms of the Future

I love StumbleUpon! I just came across this fantastic article. It explains the need for skyscrapers that farm food. The futuristic photos are beautiful and portray a feeling that this idea could definitely be possible.

Click Here to read the article.

Look Into My Eyes

Look Into My Eyes by Outlandish from their 2006 single album Look Into My Eyes

Are You Ready?

Are You Ready? by Creed from the 1999 album Human Clay

How to Recycle Anything

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Wow, anything??? Well there is quite a list here! I reader mailed this link to me and I thought I should pass it on! Tons of great advice for recycling those items that might not seem so recyclable, including those popular shoes nowadays. What are they called? Hmm.................................Oh Yes, Crocs, even Crocs are on the list!

So have a look here. To continue to the rest of the list follow the link at the bottom! This list was written by Natalie Ermann Russel and appears on the Real Simple website.

A

Aerosol cans. These can usually be recycled with other cans, as long as you pull off the plastic cap and empty the canister completely.

Antiperspirant and deodorant sticks. Many brands have a dial on the bottom that is made of a plastic polymer different from that used for the container, so your center might not be able to recycle the whole thing (look on the bottom to find out). However, Tom’s of Maine makes a deodorant stick composed solely of plastic No. 5.

B

Backpacks. The American Birding Association accepts donated backpacks, which its scientists use while tracking neotropical birds (www.americanbirding.org).

Batteries. Recycling batteries keeps hazardous metals out of landfills. Many stores, like RadioShack and Office Depot, accept reusableones, as does the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (www.rbrc.org/call2recycle). Car batteries contain lead and can’t go in landfills, because toxic metals can leach into groundwater, but almost any retailer selling them will also collect and recycle them.

Beach balls. They may be made of plastic, but there aren’t enough beach balls being thrown away to make them a profitable item to recycle. If a beach ball is still usable, donate it to a thrift store or a children’s hospital.

Books. “Hard covers are too rigid to recycle, so we ask people to remove them and recycle just the pages,” says Sarah Kite, recycling manager of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, in Johnston. In many areas, paperbacks can be tossed in with other paper.

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C

Carpeting (nylon fiber). The Carpet America Recovery Effort estimates that 5 billion pounds of carpeting went to landfills in 2003 alone. Go to www.carpetrecovery.org and click on “What can I do with my old carpet?” to find a carpet-reclamation facility near you, or check with your carpet’s manufacturer. Some carpet makers, like Milliken (www.millikencarpet.com), Shaw (www.shawfloors.com), and Flor (www.flor.com), have recycling programs.

Cars, jet skis, boats, trailers, RVs, and motorcycles. If these are unusable — totaled, rusted — they still have metal and other components that can be recycled. Call junkyards in your area, or go to www.junkmycar.com, which will pick up and remove cars, trailers, motorcycles, and other heavy equipment for free.

Cell phones. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fewer than 20 percent of cell phones are recycled each year, and most people don’t know where to recycle them. The Wireless Foundation refurbishes old phones to give to domestic-violence survivors (www.calltoprotect.org); for information on other cell-phone charities, log on to www.recyclewirelessphones.com. In some states, like California and New York, retailers must accept and recycle old cell phones at no charge.

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs. CFLs contain mercury and shouldn’t be thrown in the trash. Ikea and the Home Depot operate CFL recycling programs; you can also check with your local hardware store or recycling center to see if it offers recycling services.

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Computers. You can return used computers to their manufacturers for recycling (check www.mygreenelectronics.com for a list of vendors) or donate them to a charitable organization (log on to www.sharetechnology.org or www.cristina.org). Nextsteprecycling.org repairs your broken computers and gives them to underfunded schools, needy families, and nonprofits.

Crayons. Send them to the National Crayon Recycle Program (www.crazycrayons.com), which melts down crayons and reforms them into new ones. Leave the wrappers on: “When you have black, blue, and purple crayons together without wrappers, it’s hard to tell them apart,” says the program’s founder, LuAnn Foty, a.k.a. the Crazy Crayon Lady.

Crocs. The manufacturer recycles used Crocs into new shoes and donates them to underprivileged families. Mail them to: Crocs Recycling West, 3375 Enterprise Avenue, Bloomington CA 92316.

Continue reading here!

Elly Nelly Prints

Name:Elaine & Nell Oliver ( Mother & daughter team)
Shop Name:Elly Nelly Prints
Shop Link:www.ellynellyprints.etsy.com
Location:New York, USA & Cairns, Australia
Ships To:All around the world.

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products?
We use tree friendly paper for printing. Made from 50% cotton fiber and 30% post consumer waste. Paper is also made using 100% wind energy.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products?
We want to keep our leafy green friends happy :o)

What inspires you?
Nature & all things beautiful.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy?
3 months.

Is this a job for you or a hobby?
It's a job.

How did you get into your craft?
We are both qualified textile designers & wanted to get our images into peoples homes more directly.


Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners?
We would encourage fellow Etsy shop owners to be true to their own talents to do their own research & development of products. They should be original & then they can enjoy the buzz of pleasure when sales occur. It is so satisfying when your own creations appeal to others.

Anything else you would like to add?
Thanks for this opportunity to introduce ourselves. Elly Nelly Prints is only in its infancy we do intend to expand our collection of prints.

Endangered Animal-Asiatic Lions

Buddha Quote

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. ~Buddha

Jesse Danger

Name: Jesse Danger
Shop Name: Jesse Danger
Shop Link: Jessedanger.etsy.com
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Ships To: everywhere and anywhere

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? I use silver and gold that has been created using only recycled metal with very advanced refining machines. I also use recycled materials to package all of my pieces.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? I couldn't justify creating jewelry that didn't represent the way I live.



What inspires you? So many things! I usually look for jewelry and metal smithing inspiration in nature and in my surroundings, and typically not other jewelry.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? It's been about 8 months now, I love Etsy and I'm so glad to be part of it.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? I consider it a job, small yet growing well. I do still have a full time job at a local Custom Jewelery store though.


How did you get into your craft? I started in college with a couple of fine metals classes in my Studio Art program. I really enjoyed them and began devoting all my time to metal smithing.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? Etsy is growing quite fast, and I think being true to yourself with your work and spreading the word through other networks really helps set people apart.

Anything else you would like to add? Most importantly, make sure you enjoy what you're doing! But I'm sure nearly everyone on Etsy does.

Thoughts on Checkout

An excerpt from 1,001 Ways to Save the Earth

"Ask yourself is the item you are about to buy is something you really need. Will it make you more fulfilled? If not, try doing something else to nurture yourself instead, like eating good food, doing something special with a friend, going for a walk, or planning something you've been interested in for ages."

picapicadesign

Name: Liz Grotyohann
Shop Name: picapicadesign

Shop Link: picapicadesign.etsy.com, also www.picapicadesign.net
Location: Plainfield, NJ
Ships To: Worldwide :)

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? I use paper (mostly magazine pages, junk mail and cardboard packing material) that would otherwise wind up in the trash/recycling bin. I coil paper into vases and pulp paper to create bowls. I also create found object art, and jewelry from found objects—both giving new life to old items that may have worn out their usefulness.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? I have always enjoyed making new things out of old objects, which began with my found-object art. Creating decorative crafts out of materials that would otherwise be thrown away just seemed like a natural extension of that.


How long have you had your shop on Etsy? I opened shop in January 2008.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? Right now this is a hobby, but I'm lucky—I get to work a creative day job too. In "real life" I am a graphic designer specializing in exhibit design for museums and science centers.


How did you get into your craft? I just can't stop making things. If I don't have 6 or 7 projects going at once I'm not happy. Creating objects that other people can purchase and enjoy just seemed like a natural outlet.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? Put your best work forward. Don't be afraid of criticism, or of failure—just go for it. Have great customer service. And most of all, enjoy what you do. Otherwise it's just another job.

Find - Log Bowls

These bowls are amazingly beautiful!! I had to dig further when I came upon them on the love retro color blog . What I found was this;

Log Bowls are from the Loyal Loot Collective





"Log Bowls combine the incomparable beauty of trees in their natural state with a high-gloss vibrant finish. Each bowl is handmade using only locally reclaimed trees of all varieties (fallen or cut down due to infrastructure, re-landscaping, droughts, or stormy weather). The trees are hand selected, gathered, turned and finished by Loyal Loot Collective and local crafts people. Log Bowls come in a large variety of colors and are completed by hand with a water-based, furniture grade finish."


materials. log cut offs, acrylic paint, water based gloss finish
sizes. vary between 2- 10 inches in diameter, heights vary
design. doha chebib
for EVERYONE

So where can we purchase these fabulous bowls? Well that search was slightly harder, but I did find;

Rose and Radish
vivre
California locals can find them at Show
goodEGG Industries

FDA

An Excerpt for the Introduction of The Safe Shopper's Bible


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. It is responsible for ensuring the safety of foods, cosmetics, prescriptions, and over-the-counter drugs. Yet, the FDA officials have consistently trivialized the risk of pesticides, industrial chemicals, food additives, and animal drugs added to the food supply, and its enforcement record has been strongly criticized. Furthermore, while the FDA has initiated disclosure of the nutritional content of foods, it has completely failed to put in place any program that would disclose chemicals applied to foods that cause cancer, nervous system damage, and birth defects. Put another way, the FDA insists on labeling foods for cholesterol, but not for carcinogens.

Recycled Ideas

Shop Name: Recycled Ideas
Shop Link: http://www.recycledideas.etsy.com
Location: Walla Walla, WA (the town so nice they named it twice!)
^ cheesy saying, but it really is a wonderful place to call home
http://www.wallawalla.org/
^ Walla Walla is known for sweet onions and wine.

Ships To: North America and for many products, to Europe

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? 100% post-consumer recycled paper makes up the bulk of what I offer, but I also use tree free fibers as well as 100% post-consumer content felt (it's made from recycled plastic bottles).

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? As well as doing my part to keep waste down which good for all of us as well as the next generations who inhabit this world, using recycled materials is also cost-effective!


What inspires you? I'm inspired by natural beauty, things I cannot make myself and people who are truly kind and generous.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? Although I set up an account on Sept 10, 2007, I didn't list anything for sale until October.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? It's definitely a job, but it's one that I very much enjoy.

How did you get into your craft? Many years ago I saw someone demonstrate making paper by hand on TV. I thought it looked fun. That week I went out and bought supplies to make my own equipment to make paper. I made paper for my wedding, another wedding of a friend of a friend, some cards here and there but never really sold it until etsy.


Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? Take excellent photos (I've got some tips on my blog for how to do that), write clear and complete product descriptions, and price your work at a rate that compensates you fairly for your time and is line with what buyers are willing to pay you for it.

Anything else you would like to add? I've got all kinds of tips and advice, as well as interesting reading material from the other job and loves of my life on my blog:
http://newfoundlandnews.blogspot.com/

5 Minute Introduction to Buddhism

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I discovered this on Stumble today and I thought I would pass it along.
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• What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world. The word comes from 'budhi', 'to awaken'. It has its origins about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha, was himself awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35.

• Is Buddhism a Religion?

To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or 'way of life'. It is a philosophy because philosophy 'means love of wisdom' and the Buddhist path can be summed up as:

(1) to lead a moral life,
(2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and
(3) to develop wisdom and understanding.

• How Can Buddhism Help Me?

Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent injustice and inequality around the world, and it provides a code of practice or way of life that leads to true happiness.

• Why is Buddhism Becoming Popular?

Buddhism is becoming popular in western countries for a number of reasons, The first good reason is Buddhism has answers to many of the problems in modern materialistic societies. It also includes (for those who are interested) a deep understanding of the human mind (and natural therapies) which prominent psychologists around the world are now discovering to be both very advanced and effective.

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• Who Was the Buddha?

Siddhartha Gotama was born into a royal family in Lumbini, now located in Nepal, in 563 BC. At 29, he realised that wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness, so he explored the different teachings religions and philosophies of the day, to find the key to human happiness. After six years of study and meditation he finally found 'the middle path' and was enlightened. After enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the principles of Buddhism — called the Dhamma, or Truth — until his death at the age of 80.

• Was the Buddha a God?

He was not, nor did he claim to be. He was a man who taught a path to enlightenment from his own experience.

• Do Buddhists Worship Idols?

Buddhists sometimes pay respect to images of the Buddha, not in worship, nor to ask for favours. A statue of the Buddha with hands rested gently in its lap and a compassionate smile reminds us to strive to develop peace and love within ourselves. Bowing to the statue is an expression of gratitude for the teaching.

• Why are so Many Buddhist Countries Poor?

One of the Buddhist teachings is that wealth does not guarantee happiness and also wealth is impermanent. The people of every country suffer whether rich or poor, but those who understand Buddhist teachings can find true happiness.

• Are There Different Types of Buddhism?

There are many different types of Buddhism, because the emphasis changes from country to country due to customs and culture. What does not vary is the essence of the teaching — the Dhamma or truth.

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• Are Other Religions Wrong?

Buddhism is also a belief system which is tolerant of all other beliefs or religions. Buddhism agrees with the moral teachings of other religions but Buddhism goes further by providing a long term purpose within our existence, through wisdom and true understanding. Real Buddhism is very tolerant and not concerned with labels like 'Christian', 'Moslem', 'Hindu' or 'Buddhist'; that is why there have never been any wars fought in the name of Buddhism. That is why Buddhists do not preach and try to convert, only explain if an explanation is sought.

• Is Buddhism Scientific?

Science is knowledge which can be made into a system, which depends upon seeing and testing facts and stating general natural laws. The core of Buddhism fit into this definition, because the Four Noble truths (see below) can be tested and proven by anyone in fact the Buddha himself asked his followers to test the teaching rather than accept his word as true. Buddhism depends more on understanding than faith.

• What did the Buddha Teach?

The Buddha taught many things, but the basic concepts in Buddhism can be summed up by the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.


Click Here to finish reading

A Buddhist Chant

Focus, not on the rudeness of others, not on what they've done or left undone, but on what you have and have not done yourself.

Health Benefits of Peppermint

Peppermint, used as an aromatherapy tool can be used in room diffusers or an aromatherapy necklace to create an energizing mood. Use pure/undiluted peppermint essential oil which can be found at most health stores.

Peppermint can also help with heartburn. Using pure peppermint essential oil, put a single drop (no more) in a tall glass of water. This is still a very strong mixture and it is recommended that you pour half of the water from the glass and refill it again to cut the strength. Swallow a gulp or two and this should alleviate heartburn almost immediately. This remedy works for my husband and myself, but I have seen on some websites where the remedy does not work for some people and can have the opposite effect.
Try this at your own risk. It is also a good idea to consult a physician as well. Pregnant woman must first consult a physician as some herbs can cause complications with pregnancy.


Peppermint is also an antibacterial. I use it in a spray bottle with water to spray the air in my home to kill odors. And you can also add a few drops to some baking soda and mix it up, sprinkle it on the carpets and let it sit for 20-30 minutes and then vacuum. This kills odors in the carpets and makes your home smell amazingly refreshing. (Also using pure essential oil)

~Hyla

Here are some more uses for peppermint found on this site.


Health Benefits of Peppermint

*
Nutrients
Peppermint is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A. Peppermint is a very good source of magnesium, folate, dietary fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamin B2.

*
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
In a 1-month double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study involving 110 participants with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, there was significant improvement of symptoms after taking a peppermint oil formulation 3 to 4 times daily.
In another study 57 participants were given peppermint oil capsules twice daily for 4 weeks, and 75% of the participants showed a 50% decrease of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.

*
Indigestion (dyspepsia)
An herbal preparation consisting of peppermint oil and caraway has been shown to alleviate pain associated with dyspepsia, and a reduction in other gastrointestinal symptoms.
The peppermint oil and caraway combination appears to be as effective as Cisapride (withdrawn because of harmful side effects) in relieving dyspepsia.


*
Headache
At the Neurological Clinic at the University of Kiel in Germany, a topical application of peppermint oil and ethanol produced a reduction in sensitivity to headache.
Another study has shown that a topical application of peppermint oil and ethanol combination rubbed on the forehead and temples to be just as effective in alleviating tension headache as acetaminophen (Tylenol).

*
Shingles
A 76-year-old woman shingles sufferer experienced almost immediate relief from pain after topical treatment with peppermint oil. Standard therapies had been ineffective in relieving her pain.

*
Anti Cancer
Perillyl alcohol is a dietary monoterpene (phytochemical or phytonutrient) found in the essential oil of peppermint and other plants. Preliminary studies have shown perillyl alcohol to regress pancreatic, mammary, and liver tumors, and has the ability to kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells. Results of this and other studies suggest that perillyl alcohol may have potential as a non-toxic preventative treatment for various types of human cancers.
Rosmarinic acid is a phenolic acid found in peppermint and other herbs, which has antioxidant activities stronger than that of vitamin E, helping to reduce cell damage and the risk of cancer.

*
Candidiasis
Of 35 oil extracts of medicinal plants tested, peppermint was one of the 13 plants that demonstrated anti-Candida activity.

*
Athletes Foot
A study at the University of Novi Sad in Yugoslavia has shown peppermint oil to have greater fungicidal activity than the commercial fungicide Bifonazole, which is used to treat the fungal skin infection athlete’s foot.

Earth Hour

2007

2008

An ECO Christmas

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Originally Posted on Sept 5.
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An ECO Christmas Part 1

Ok, so how do I have an ECO friendly Christmas and make everyone, including my three children, happy? Hmmmmm......

The Christmas Tree Debate: Real or Fake?

Now, obviously buying a real tree is more environmentally friendly, if you dispose of it in an Eco friendly manner or plant it in the ground. And if you care for the tree well while it is in your home, making sure to keep it well watered so it does not turn into a fire hazard.

What if you are allergic?
We use an artificial Christmas tree. The same tree we have used for the last four years when my husband and I became a couple and got our own place. We plan to keep it until, well forever. But artificial trees are non-renewable, non-recyclable and non-biodegradable plastic. So buy a great one the first time around and take good care of it.

Try these options when you will be getting a real Christmas tree;

Buy from a small-scale sustainable grower and/or make sure the tree has Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation. Go to www.soilassociation.org/christmas for a list of producers.

BUY A TREE WITH ROOTS AND PLANT!

Planting a new Christmas tree after is a great way to leave an eco-friendly legacy. After only a few years, you will have a living reminder of fun and enjoyment in Christmas Past. American Forests provides detailed information about tree planting.

* To potentially reduce air conditioning and heating bill, plant trees strategically near your house to provide cooling shade in the summer and an insulating wind break in the winter.
* Trees clean the air and provide pure oxygen in return.
Planting 30 trees can offset your home and car’s annual contribution to global warming.
* Tree root systems hold in place soil that, if washed away by heavy rains, flow into streams and rivers, making them shallower and causing flooding.
* The EPA claims that planting trees is the best way to reverse the global warming effect.

If replanting isn’t an option:
Most local councils run Christmas tree recycling schemes. Contact yours or go to http://www.letsrecycle.com

Decorate an exterior tree or houseplant instead. (This option is probably not going to make your children happy if they are school age. But younger than 3 or teenagers might not mind)

RECYCLE YOUR TREE!

To avoid discarding old Christmas trees in landfills, where they consume much needed space, consider composting or mulching your tree.

An old Christmas tree…
* Can be ground up and used as mulch in gardens, on trails, or in animal stalls.
* Can be used as sand and erosion barriers on beaches, streambeds, and lakes.
* Can be sunk into private lakes and ponds, where it provides refuge for fish.
** For more information on recycling your tree, click here!

ECO-BENEFITS OF CHRISTMAS TREE FARMS
* While Christmas trees grow, they replenish the air with oxygen; just one acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen to support eighteen people.
* Tree farms provide habitat for birds and other wildlife (However, pesticide use on Christmas tree farms could be decreased for even greater environmental benefits.
* Due to their hardiness, Christmas trees are often planted where few other plants grow, thereby increasing soil stability.
* For each Christmas tree cut on tree farms, 2 or 3 new seedlings are planted.

CHRISTMAS TREES ARE NOT ECO-FRIENDLY WHEN:
* They are discarded with regular trash and end up in the landfill or incinerated. Landfills take up space, and incineration pollutes the air.
* They are burned in your trash, causing air pollution and creosote buildup.

Some of these tips were found HERE and HERE

"The holiday spirit can be dampened by the knowledge that monocrop tree farms use pesticides such as glyphosate (Roundup), associated with chest pains and nausea in humans and deadly to many fish and beneficial insects. Other pesticides used include the organophosphates di-syston 15-G, which can cause convulsions and unconsciousness, and dimethoate, which can cause tremors and breathing difficulties. But it's not that you'll need to wear a face mask around your tree. "Many pesticides will have been removed from trees by rain and ultraviolet light by the time they are harvested," says Dr. Thomas Arcury, Ph.D., professor of family and community medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. "However, some will remain and, in particular, one, the systemic pesticide di-syston 15-G, may be present in the tree." Luckily, there are better choices to keep this holiday season healthy, organic and even fair-trade friendly."

Trees
As for the tree, "the most sustainable thing is to be sure you put your dollars towards tree growers that you want to keep in business," says Aubrey Raper, co-owner of Rogue Harbor Farm, which sells organic trees, adding, "By all means cut the tree, enjoy the fragrance and when you're done with it put it in a fish pond to serve as an incubator for young fish."

Alternatively, you can decorate houseplants or purchase a potted tree to plant outdoors after the holidays. Sloat Gardens' 11 locations in the San Francisco Bay Area sell potted organic trees ($39.75/1.5 to 3 ft. to $200/6.5 ft.; www.sloatgardens.com; they don't ship). The New Leaf greenhouse in the Bronx borough of New York City sells potted trees, the sales of which support the program's efforts to teach marketable workplace skills to former addicts (www.arguscommunity.org). Elsewhere, visit your farmers' market (see www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm) or check www.localharvest.org for nearby nurseries and organic tree farms. For proper care, see www.forestry.iastate.edu. In San Francisco and Portland, you can rent a tree that will be delivered to you, picked up after New Year's, and planted (in Portland, $60, www.livingchristmastrees.org; in San Francisco, see www.fuf.net for prices).

If you can't buy locally, try a 7-ft. Fraser ($89.95) or balsam fir ($79.95) from NorthlandSent Wreath Company, which applies Roundup only between rows (www.localharvest.org, 218-591-0632).

For other tree recycling tips besides the fish pond, see www.thegreenguide.com.

Wreaths
Darthia Farms has fresh, organic balsam fir wreaths decorated with pine cones, rose hips and a bow for $35. Add mantelpiece greens—organic balsam fir, pine and cedar ($25)—or a centerpiece with three candles ($35; www.meweb.net). For a different take, try McFadden Farm's organic three-herb wreath ($35) or their bay leaf wreath ($22.50), which provide holiday seasonings to your meals long after New Year's Day (www.mcfaddenfarm.com). Or pick Rogue Harbor Farm's certified organic Fraser fir wreaths (from $39; www.localharvest.org; 828-689-4586).

Lights
There are a variety of LED options that run on about a tenth of the energy of conventional lights and, since they produce no heat, don't present the fire risk of traditional bulbs. Forever Bright's traditional strawberry-shaped bulbs (from $14.95), round "razzberry" bulbs (from $12.95) and mini-icicles (from $14.95; www.christmas-treasures.com) are all festive choices. As with conventional lights, the plastic in some strings may include lead, so wash hands after use.

Make sure to check the wiring of all new and used lights you buy this year. Most important of all be safe and keep your family safe.

An ECO Christmas Part 2

Continuing from the previous blog post, look below this post.

So we have covered the tree, the wreaths, and the lights. We still need to discuss decorations, gift wrapping, gifts, and cards.

Decorations

The easiest and cheapest way to decorate (not to mention most ECO friendly) use nature. Forgot those plastic lead cover, chemical filled decorations. Pine cones, cinnamon sticks, berries, poinsettias are all natural signs that the Christmas season is upon us. You can also make your own, this website has some recycled ornaments you can buy, but I am sure if you are creative in anyway you could make these yourself.

Colorful ribbon (made from hemp or bamboo or eco twist ribbon), recycled paper garland, recycled paper snowflakes,
more snowflake how to's

If you have children;

For some reason Santa always seems to track in Magical North Pole Snow. When the kids wake up in the morning there are footprints everywhere!!! This snow is magical because it does not melt! What a delight! Usually the snow smells like baby powder, but I have a feeling the snow will "smell" like baking soda this year!!! Contact me (via the contact button on the upper left column of this blog) for more information!!



Gift Wrapping

Ok, gift wrapping this is why I started this two piece article in the first place. We all should know by now that after all the wrapping is unwrapped, we NEED to recycle it. BUt what about while it sits nicely under the tree?

First use boxes and bags around the house and decorate them yourself. If you have to buy new boxes and bags this year, make sure to save them with your Christmas decorations for next year. If you have older kids make sure to only use that specific White Fluffy Dog with a Santa Hat bag only once "From Santa" and any consecutive years "From Mom and Dad".



Can I find ECO friendly gift wrapping paper? Besides, the cartoons from the Sunday paper, which;
A) we don't receive
B) Are kinda dull for Christmas morning excitement

The search begins......

Recycled Paper Gift Bags

Recycled Wrapping Paper some from Fish Lips

Banana Fiber Paper

Molded Pulp Packaging for shipping gifts to relatives and friends

Unique Gift Wrapping Ideas

More tips and a Video

Amy Butler 100% post consumer recycled

Gift Wrap and more

Gift Bags


WoWza!!!! Thank you for the Internet!
The Christmas Cards

Lots of fun to receive, not so much fun filling out for your whole address book! If you have kids get them involved by using eco friendly kids paint have them each dip a hand in the paint, or you can paint their hand (careful this tends to cause giggles and uncontrollable laughter!!!).
Lay the largest hand on the left side of the card and press down firmly. You can do this for all the cards and lay them out on a flat surface, such as the kitchen table. After that drys, about 10 minutes, or so, do the next largest hand, in a different color, on top of the previous hand. And so on, everyone enjoys getting these cards in the mail and the kids get to help out and it is tons of fun!

Have you heard of plantable cards? No? Well let me introduce you! Plantable cards have seeds in the fiber of the paper. So when the recipient is done enjoying the card they can plant it and still enjoy it through the wonderful flowers that come up!!! The insk used on the cards is soy based and not harmful to the environment! You can find them on a number of different sites, I wonder if we will see them in stores this year?

GraceGraphics

Botanical Paperworks

GreenFieldPaper

Photo is from Etsy Seller BazilEssentials- Click Photo to get more information on the product

Gifts

Oh Boy! Where to start? Certainly with children, the better built the toy, the longer it will last and can be saved for future generations. Toys made out of wood and handmade are all the more reason to stop by Etsy and see what those artists have cooking! Plants are ideal of grownups and friends as they will cleanse the air in their home. See this previous blog post for the best indoor plants to cut pollutants.

Sure you could give a certificate that says you bought the person a tree on the other side of the world I am not sure how long the tree will be there what kind of care it receives, and usually a gift you can touch, see, smell, is a lot more welcomed and looks like you spent more time and energy on it. Or you could just buy the person a tree, especially if you live in a climate where it is warm during Christmas. But they can take care of the tree indoors for a few months and then plant it outside.

Try not to buy into all the electronics and new gadgets on sale this year, they likely wont last till next Christmas and that is what the sellers are expecting. If you have to try shopping on places like EBGames, Amazon.com, or Craigslist.com where you can get the same items for cheaper prices because they are used. You are recycling here in your own way and it is likely that the item was not used much if at all and still looks brand new.


Handmade gifts

If you are crafty you can make a handmade gift such as soy based candles, use glass jars that you save from your everyday life, or handmade notebook/journal (make sure to use recycled paper).

Maybe you don't think highly of your crafting skills or maybe you just do not have the time to make your own gifts, that is where Etsy comes in. Etsy is an online community of artists/crafters that sell handmade items. They sell everything; candles, journals, cards, toys, clothing, jewelry, plants, food, art, books, pottery, photos, woodworking. You name it and you can probably find it on Etsy!



Now why would buying handmade be ECO friendly?
Well the products might not necessarily be ECO friendly but buying handmade is. When you buy handmade from Etsy you are buying a product that one individual spent time making. It was not factory made and it was not made to break after a certain amount of time. These people pride themselves on products that will last for years to come and that is ECO friendly. You will find sellers from all of the world, they love to answer your questions and if you ever have any problem with a product, most sellers will be right there helping you out. They want you to feel that you have purchased a quality product from them because that is how they rely on business. Happy customers that return for more and spread the word about the fabulous product they received.


I hope these blog posts will help make your holidays a little greener and if you have any more tips please add them to the comments for other readers!

Too Much of Heaven

Too Much of Heaven by Eiffel 65 from their 1999 album Europop

Check Your Registration

Unbeknown to tens of thousands of voters across the country they may have had their names purged from the voting rolls and by the time they find out about it, it will be too late to do anything about it. Dozens of advocacy groups, churches, bloggers and elected officials are calling for voters across the country to check and see on October 1st. if they are still registered to vote. Most states have a 14 or 30 preregistration requirement and this would give people a chance to re-register should they spot problems.

The cornerstone of democracy is the right to vote, yet millions of Americans may have their rights suppressed as mettlesome elections officials are bending and breaking election laws to deny people the right to vote. Just recently:

---In New Jersey, 300,000 folks who thought they were registered to vote, actually are not. Most have been purged from the rolls or never had their names placed their to begin with.

---In Michigan, Republican party officials are challenging the right to vote for anybody who has had their home put into foreclosure, of which 60% are African-American.

---In Wisconsin, the Republican Attorney General, recently sued the state elections board to try to remove 20% of the voters in this crucial state.

---In Virginia, another battleground state, the AFL-CIO is reporting that Republicans deliberately tried to confuse students about where they were eligible to register and vote.

In Ohio in 2006, 303,000 people were purged from the rolls in three major urban counties while last month, 600,000 additional voters were threatened with being dropped from the rolls. Our October 1st call to action will allow time for folks to re-register if they find themselves removed from the voting files with out cause.



ON OCTOBER 1ST. WE WILL BE ASKING ALL PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS, GROUPS AND BLOGS TO SEND OUT AN 'ALERT' TEXT, EMAIL OR PHONE MESSAGE ADVISING THEIR MEMBERS TO CHECK ON THE VALIDITY OF THEIR VOTER REGISTRATIONS.

"Let's not allow 2008 mirror the widespread voter manipulation that took place across the country these past 8 years. Let's have this election decided by the people rather than machines or voter witch hunts" said Todd Iverson, president of America in Solidarity. "This is a matter of justice, pure and simple" It is what our country values in democracy. With electoral integrity we risk descending into anarchy and becoming a third world nation." - Mike Collier, chair of the MICAH Project in Tacoma, Washington.

How can you help? A growing list of organizations, blogs, church groups and elected officials are participating, endorsing the project and spreading the word. Bloggers, candidates and media outlets will be contacted to help spread the word about October 1st as NATIONAL 'GUARANTEE YOUR VOTE' DAY.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Todd Iverson (253) 219-8717 todd@americasolidarity.org or

Mike Collier (253) 627-0129 micah.project@yahoo.com

In Solidarity,

Mike Collier and Todd Iverson

Need a Web Host?

Well Affordable Internet Services Online, Inc. might be just what you are looking for. The catch line is "Web Hosting As Nature Intended It" and they brag that

"AISO.Net is a reliable and responsible green web hosting company. We have made a strong commitment to help fight pollution and preserving our natural resources. Solar panels run our data center and office, not energy credits. Solar tubes bring in natural light from the outside providing light during the day. AMD Opteron powered IBM servers use sixty percent less energy & generate fifty percent less heat.These are just some of the ways AISO.Net is becoming the world's most responsible green web hosting company."

So the next time you are in need of a web host, make sure and check them out!

New Layout

Don't be alarmed if the blog is switching layouts on you. I am considering switching the layout to make everything fit better. To do that I have to mess with the blog.
~Hyla

Can you Trust the FDA?

You make up your own mind. But I will not be purchasing products with BPA in them. Ridiculous.

Mr. T

Handmade Naturals

Name: Laura Harris

Shop Name: Handmade Naturals
Shop Link: http://handmadenaturals.etsy.com
Location: NL, Canada

Ships To: Canada, U.S. and beyond


What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products?

Third party certified 100% organic cotton

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products?

The decision came from a need to provide my own family with clothing that did not come at an environmental, social or human cost.


What inspires you?

Nature, my children, and those who dare to hope in the face of overwhelming odds.



How long have you had your shop on Etsy?

Since February of this year.


Is this a job for you or a hobby?

I am pretty much moonlighting as an Etsy-er for now. I have two young children but I am also a call-in elementary teacher. In the day I am either doing the Mom thing or I am teaching. Right now it all feels fairly balanced. Hectic, yes, but I find all three roles to be quite fulfilling. I am very fortunate.

How did you get into your craft?

I have always been a very creative person by nature. After having my two children, I left my full-time teaching job to be at home with them. I had been wanting to try my hand at sewing for awhile, and the time seemed right. Around that same time I began learning about how exploitative the mainstream clothing industry is to the land and to the workers involved. I was determined not to contribute to that exploitation. Thus began my search for sustainably and fairly made clothing in Canada or the U.S. That turned out to somewhat of a tall order. When I turned to the internet I didn't find much more, but I did discover a wealth of beautiful, sustainable and fairly produced fabrics directed at the small business owner and home seamstress. I was immediately moved and inspired to get creating.



Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners?

Hmmm . . . I would say begin with materials that truly inspire you, both on a moral and aesthetic level. Then I would say to start small. Create small successes that you can build upon. Hone your craft, make your designs your own, and then take quality photographs. Re-listing has proven very valuable to me, and makes the difference in being seen and not being seen. Experiment with re-listing at different times of day. If you find you get only a couple of hits when you list at one time of day, but get a dozen hits when you list the same item at another time of day, you will find out when your target audience is shopping. Consider it market research at a really low cost.

Anything else you would like to add?

Yes, try not to compare your success or work to that of others. Just stay focused on why you are doing what you are doing, keep working on it, and soon others will hopefully begin to see your
work as you had first imagined it - beautiful, inspired, sustainable, and well-made. Would you want anything less?

Trip Advisor and $1 Million Dollars

Think of the $1 million as a pie. Each organization's slice of that pie depends on how many votes
it receives. More votes = more money.

Choose the cause you would like to support. The more votes, the more money they will receive.

The causes you can vote for are;

Conservation International

Doctors Without Borders

National Geographic Society

The Nature Conservancy

Save The Children

Vote NOW

Vote Natural and Win with Burt's Bees

Go to this LINK and vote for a natural life style and you could win some amazing prizes! Check it out!

Hurricane Ike Before and After

This is sad. :( Source

Location 1: Oblique aerial photography of Bolivar Peninsula, TX, on September 9, 2008 (top) and September 15, 2008, two days after landfall of Hurricane Ike (bottom). Yellow arrows mark features that appear in each image. In addition to the loss of houses, the evidence of inundation here includes eroded dune face and sand deposited well inland of the shoreline.

Hurricane Ike started as a tropical disturbance off the west coast of Africa in late August, 2008. On September 1 it became a tropical storm near the Cape Verde Islands. It gained strength quickly and was a Category 4 hurricane on September 4. It was the ninth named storm and fifth hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season.

Ike was a storm with an enormous geographic extent. At its largest extent it was producing hurricane-strength winds in a 190-mile diameter around the eye and tropical-storm-strength winds in a 450-mile diameter around the eye.

Hurricane Ike made landfall between Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula in the early morning of September 13th as a Category 2 hurricane. In the days prior to Ike's arrival, emergency messages urged people to evacuate the coastal areas and offshore islands saying that they may "face certain death" from the wind or storm surge.

The storm surge swept over the Island and Bolivar Peninsula. Homes and other buildings were pounded by waves and swept away by the surge. In many areas entire neighborhoods were swept completely off the land. The photos by USGS below document the damage.


CLICK HERE for More

Recycling Is Becoming Profitable

Turn your trash into money by recycling! Many people pick up cans, bottles, and glass and turn it into cold hard cash. Have you thought about it? Do you have any giant scraps of metal laying around? You can get money for metal. The following is from MSNBC.

Recycling booming as Americans Seek Cash

GLENSHAW, Pa. - Forklifts rumble around the scrapyard, grabbing pieces of metal and plunking them on scales: Will the junk be worth a tank of gas or a cart of groceries?

Nationwide, recycling facilities are doing brisk business. Weekends are the busiest, when people have time to bring in scraps like copper wire, brass bits, aluminum window frames and rotted pipes and cans, hoping to make some extra money.

“I drive about 35 miles round trip to work every day, so this recycle made a good deal on my gas tank,” said David Trombley, 51, a shower door installer and glazer. He walked away with $133.40 at Fitzsimmons Metal Company in suburban Pittsburgh after turning in scraps left over from remodeling his basement bathroom. “I put most of it in my tank, over half of it in my gas tank and that’ll last me two weeks worth of going to work and back,” he said.

Photo Not Linked