Here are two short quizzes that help you see who you agree with more on the issues at hand.

http://www.whoshouldyouvotefor.com/

http://www.votehelp.org/

How would the world vote? Click HERE

Happy People Dancing

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

My husband has been looking for recipes for dandelions. Apparently there are some people that think dandelions are tasty. I am not quite convinced I imagine that they might be very bitter. Not to mention I wouldn't want to eat any dandelions from a ground that was fertilized or sprayed. I guess you would have to grow your own? Haha, imagine that, growing a weed on purpose, I wonder what the neighbors would think....

Here is a recipe for Dandelion Lemonade for those that would like to try it. The recipe comes from the Herbal Mentor by Learning Herbs site.

To make it you get to spend a few minutes outside in the sunshine in your favorite dandelion patch gathering fresh dandelion blossoms. You’ll need about 2 quarts of flowers to make a gallon of lemonade.

Bring the flowers inside and place them in a gallon jar. Fill the jar with room temperature water and add the juice of 4 lemons. Add fresh honey to taste, and chill. You can strain the flowers out after a few hours or just leave them to fall into the glasses when you serve the lemonade.

Susun Weed in Healing Wise reminds us that dandelion blossoms steeped as tea can help relieve headaches, menstrual cramps, backaches, stomach aches and even depression.

So, not only will this lemonade be a tasty treat, it will be another way to access the healing properties of these beautiful sunny yellow flowers.

Save a glass or two for the rainy spring days that inevitably follow the hot sunny ones, and perhaps you will find your spirits lifted as you drink.

Enjoy!

Mimosa pudica- Sensitive Plant -Tickle Me Plant

The Mimosa pudica plant is a touch sensitive plant. When you touch the leaves they fold up, much like a venus fly trap, but very quickly. In about 5-10 minutes the leaves unfurl again These can be fun for adults and kids alike.

From Wikipedia
Mimosa pudica is well known for its rapid plant movement. In the evening the leaflets will fold together and the whole leaf droops downward. It then re-opens at sunrise. This type of motion has been termed nyctinastic movement. The leaves also close up under various other stimuli, such as touching, warming, or shaking. The stimulus can also be transmitted to neighbouring leaves. These types of movements have been termed seismonastic movements. The movement is caused by "a rapid loss of pressure in strategically situated cells that cause the leaves to droop right before one’s eyes"

You can purchase the plant seeds and kits at Ticklemeplant.com

Odd song but cool video.

And just for fun, time lapse of a random house plant enjoying life.

The Wonders of Technology

Prepare to laugh so hard you are going to cry!

Ecotricity

The world's first green electricity movement.

Ecotricity is a company in the UK (sadly not available in the U.S.A.) that makes it simple and easy to switch your electricity provider from your current one to a windmill powered one! The site is secured by Thwate ( I am guessing this is similar to Paypal). It will take you about 5 minutes to sign up through their site, or you can call their 08000 302 302 number.

From their site;

We founded the green electricity movement in 1995.
We build wind turbines, produce green electricity and we supply that to our customers.
We’re the UK’s oldest and most successful independent electricity company.
We supply over 35,000 customers and growing fast.
We’ve built over 12% of England’s wind turbines.
We spend more per customer, building new sources of green energy than any other company in the world and more than all other UK suppliers put together.

Price

Our policy (and our promise) is to price match the Big Six for their standard ‘brown’ electricity. Most people are still with the regional supplier (one of the Big Six) and so switching to Ecotricity won’t cost a penny more. If you’ve switched to a cheaper deal though, we will cost a little more - we can’t price match the price cutters and keep building.

About Ecotricity

"Ecotricity is an electricity company with a difference - we're dedicated to changing the way electricity is made. We take the money our customers spend on electricity and invest it in clean forms of power like wind energy. What's more, we're the only green electricity company actually building these new renewable energy sources. In 2007 alone we invested £25 million in wind energy.

We've been building wind turbines and selling electricity across the country since 1996. We supply people like the Body Shop and Co-operative Bank and are proud to be recommended by the Soil Association and WWF.

The other thing that not many people realise is that we can now all choose who supplies our electricity, and therefore how it's made, so wherever you live in the country you can actually choose to have your home or business supplied by clean energy. The funny thing is switching takes about five minutes but it's the biggest single step you can take to reduce your emissions and protect the environment."

If you are in the UK, make the switch today! ECOTRICITY

The Dangers of Plastic Bags

A Silent Video

Facts About Endangered Species and How they get listed

Source

According to scientists, more than one and one-half million species exist on the earth today. However, recent estimates state that at least 20 times that many species inhabit the planet.
In the United States, 735 species of plants and 496 species of animals are listed as threatened or endangered.
266 of these listed species have recovery plans currently under development.
There are more than 1,000 animal species endangered worldwide.
There are more than 3,500 protected areas in existence worldwide. These areas include parks, wildlife refuges and other reserves. They cover a total of nearly 2 million square miles (5 million square km), or 3% of our total land area.
Aquatic species, which are often overlooked, are facing serious trouble. One third of the United States’ fish species, two-thirds of its crayfish species, and almost three-quarters of its mussel species are in trouble.

How Does A Species Get "Listed?"

Any person may petition the government to list a species as either endangered or threatened. An endangered species is any species "in danger of extinction through all or a significant portion of its range." A threatened species is any species "which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future." The decision to list a species is supposed to be based solely on science, not politics. The listing process is designed to take no more than 27 months. (In some limited circumstances an expedited or emergency listing may be given temporarily.)

Buddha Quote

"I have shown you the methods that lead to liberation but you should know that liberation depends on you." -Buddha

Kids are Awesome!

They are the future......Watch OUT!

MTV Trashes and Island

WoW, talk about not taking any responsibility! MTV not only cut down part of the island's rain forest, built roads and trashed the place but they left all of their garbage and sets behind. This is really outrageous!

The premiers of Real World/ Road Rules premiers on Sept 17th. And one of the episodes was taped at Boca del Drago, Republic of Panama. Apparently the MTV crew took over parts of the island and forbid residents to come down that way, wanting to make it a private taping. So none of the inhabitants of the island knew what was going on. When MTV cleared out, the residents went down to their once beautiful beach and found the following:

Click on the photo to make it larger
Click here to read more

This is intolerable and MTV should be held accountable.

What you can do:

Sign the petition I just started. Click Here

Blog about it

Spread the word through email

Send feedback to the parent company of MTV
http://www.viacom.com/contact/Pages/default.aspx

View their Corporate Responsibility mission statement here
http://www.viacom.com/corpresponsibility/Pages/default.aspx

And you can submit this to MSM news outlets

HERE

UK Jury decides that threat of global warming justifies breaking the law

Source

By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor
Thursday, 11 September 2008

The threat of global warming is so great that campaigners were justified in causing more than £35,000 worth of damage to a coal-fired power station, a jury decided yesterday. In a verdict that will have shocked ministers and energy companies the jury at Maidstone Crown Court cleared six Greenpeace activists of criminal damage.

Jurors accepted defence arguments that the six had a "lawful excuse" to damage property at Kingsnorth power station in Kent to prevent even greater damage caused by climate change. The defence of "lawful excuse" under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 allows damage to be caused to property to prevent even greater damage – such as breaking down the door of a burning house to tackle a fire.

The not-guilty verdict, delivered after two days and greeted with cheers in the courtroom, raises the stakes for the most pressing issue on Britain's green agenda and could encourage further direct action.

Kingsnorth was the centre for mass protests by climate camp activists last month. Last year, three protesters managed to paint Gordon Brown's name on the plant's chimney. Their handi-work cost £35,000 to remove.

The plan to build a successor to the power station is likely to be the first of a new generation of coal-fired plants. As coal produces more of the carbon emissions causing climate change than any other fuel, campaigners claim that a new station would be a disastrous setback in the battle against global warming, and send out a negative signal to the rest of the world about how serious Britain really is about tackling the climate threat.

But the proposals, from the energy giant E.ON, are firmly backed by the Business Secretary, John Hutton, and the Energy minister, Malcolm Wicks. Some members of the Cabinet are thought to be unhappy about them, including the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, and the Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn. Mr Brown is likely to have the final say on the matter later this year.

During the eight-day trial, the world's leading climate scientist, Professor James Hansen of Nasa, who had flown from American to give evidence, appealed to the Prime Minister personally to "take a leadership role" in cancelling the plan and scrapping the idea of a coal-fired future for Britain. Last December he wrote to Mr Brown with a similar appeal. At the trial, he called for an moratorium on all coal-fired power stations, and his hour-long testimony about the gravity of the climate danger, which painted a bleak picture, was listened to intently by the jury of nine women and three men.

Professor Hansen, who first alerted the world to the global warming threat in June 1988 with testimony to a US senate committee in Washington, and who last year said the earth was in "imminent peril" from the warming atmosphere, asserted that emissions of CO2 from Kings-north would damage property through the effects of the climate change they would help to cause.

He was one of several leading public figures who gave evidence for the defence, including Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Richmond Park and director of the Ecologist magazine, who similarly told the jury that in his opinion, direct action could be justified in the minds of many people if it was intended to prevent larger crimes being committed.

The acquittal was the second time in a decade that the "lawful excuse" defence has been successfully used by Greenpeace activists. In 1999, 28 Greenpeace campaigners led Lord Melchett, who was director at the time, were cleared of criminal damage after trashing an experimental field of GM crops in Norfolk. In each case the damage was not disputed – the point at issue was the motive.

The defendants who scaled the 630ft chimney at Kingsnorth, near Hoo, last year were Huw Williams, 41, from Nottingham; Ben Stewart, 34, from Lyminge, Kent; Kevin Drake, 44, from Westbury, Wiltshire; Will Rose, 29, from London; and Emily Hall, 34, from New Zealand. Tim Hewke, 48, from Ulcombe, Kent, helped organise the protest.

The court heard how, dressed in orange boiler suits and white hard hats bearing the Greenpeace logo, the six-strong group arrived at the site at 6.30am on 8 October. Armed with bags containing abseiling gear, five of them scaled the chimney while Mr Hewke waited below to liaise between the climbers and police.

The climbers had planned to paint "Gordon, bin it" in huge letters on the side of the chimney, but although they succeeded in temporarily shutting the station, they only got as far as painting the word "Gordon" on the chimney before they descended, having been threatened with a High Court injunction. Removing the graffiti cost E.ON £35,000, the court heard.

During the trial the defendants said they had acted lawfully, owing to an honestly held belief that their attempt to stop emissions from Kingsnorth would prevent further damage to properties worldwide caused by global warming. Their aim, they said, was to rein back CO2 emissions and bring urgent pressure to bear on the Government and E.ON to changes policies. They insisted their action had caused the minimum amount of damage necessary to close the plant down and constituted a "proportionate response" to the increasing environmental threat.

Speaking outside court after being cleared yesterday, Mr Stewart said: "This is a huge blow for ministers and their plans for new coal-fired power stations. It wasn't only us in the dock, it was the coal-fired generation as well. After this verdict, the only people left in Britain who think new coal is a good idea are John Hutton and Malcolm Wicks. It's time the Prime Minister stepped in, showed some leadership and embraced the clean energy future for Britain."

He added: "This verdict marks a tipping point for the climate change movement. When a jury of normal people say it is legitimate for a direct action group to shut down a coal-fired power station because of the harm it does to our planet, then where does that leave Government energy policy? We have the clean technologies at hand to power our economy. It's time we turned to them instead of coal."

Ms Hall said: "The jury heard from the most distinguished climate scientist in the world. How could they ignore his warnings and reject his leading scientific arguments?"

Solar Panel Future

A Energy Option That Will Work Unlike Obama or Mccains - More bloopers are a click away

100 Years

Artist: Five For Fighting
2004 Album: The Battle for Everything

The Urban Farmer

For More Information-Click Here

1. Great tasting, fresh, and nutritious food right outside your door.

There is no doubt about it, home grown food tastes better and is more nutritious than imported foods. In fact, the nutritional content of fruits and vegetables begins to decline the moment they are harvested. Considering the typical weeks or months it takes for much produce to get form the field to our plate, it is no wonder that both taste and nutritional content have highly declined.

2. Practice good “economy”.

Both economy and ecology come from the same Greek word oikos meaning “household.” When we grow some of our own food, we are beginning to bring together both the ecology and the economics of our household. Many urban dwellers find that they are able to save a substantial amount of money every year by growing some of their own food. Such a practice also reduces many of the “hidden” environmental costs (use of fossil fuels, water, pesticides, soil erosion) of the food that we eat. Furthermore, much of the food we import is grown by underpaid workers in difficult conditions on land that is much more needed to sustain their local populations.

3. Nurture your physical, emotional and spiritual health.

The therapeutic benefits of gardening are many. The physical activity involved in regular gardening activities contributes to general health and well-being. The pride and satisfaction that comes from harvesting one’s own produce is hard to match. Growing and consuming our own food, however, goes one step further – it connects us to the earth in a fundamental way that has been lost for most of us. Thomas Berry says that “Gardening connects us to the deepest mysteries of the universe” and many gardeners find that this is so.

4. Create beautiful, aesthetically pleasing spaces.

Gardening is a very creative activity and growing your own food is no exception. Developing a landscape with diverse food producing trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals adds tremendous colour, texture, smells and tastes to the local environment and in turn attracts many insects, birds, butterflies and other creatures. Such a beautiful landscape nourishes both the body and the soul.

5. Conserve wilderness, natural areas, and bio-diversity.

As world population and consumption increases, the pressures on our little remaining wilderness and natural areas builds. When we grow some of our own food, we help to reduce the pressure on yet uncultivated lands. This is particularly critical as the available agricultural land on the planet is finite and is degrading at a very alarming rate. Our own gardens can contribute to supporting bio-diversity both by decreasing pressure on wilderness areas and by providing additional habitat for local flora and fauna.

6. Connect with your own bio-region.

One cannot help but learn about their own ecosystem when actively gardening. Gardeners, and particularly food gardeners, are invariably more attentive to the seasons, the weather, the water cycle, and the local flora and fauna. Our gardens and we ourselves, become active participants in the bio-region in which we live.

7. Learn and preserve endangered wisdom and essential knowledge for living.

While most of us are the descendants of small farmers, there are relatively few people who now know and practice the essential human activity of growing food. With close to half of the world’s population now living in cities, it will become increasingly important for urbanites to play a role in learning and passing on this critical wisdom. From Africa to Asia to Latin America, city dwellers in the Southern hemisphere are leading the way in developing intensive urban agriculture. Many cities in North America are beginning to rise to this challenge.

8. Contribute to world food security.

Most of us depend on others, usually “far away others” for all of our food. When food production is far removed from where we live, we are vulnerable to events or circumstances that could interrupt this flow of food. The inevitable decline in the availability of fossil fuels will spell great changes for world food production and distribution in the coming years. It will be in all of our interests to invest in local food production – from our own yards, to our communities, to the farms that surround our cities.

9. Help to preserve diverse seed stocks.

The diversity of world seed stocks have been rapidly declining over the past 100 years. As more and more agriculture is controlled by transnational corporations whose primary agenda is to exert control over food production for profit, fewer and fewer strains of many fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes are now available. The development of genetically modified crops further threatens the integrity of our food supply. By planting and collecting diverse seeds, you are helping to protect our common heritage created by countless generations of small farmers over the past five thousand years. For information on seed conservation in Canada go to “Seeds of Diversity”.

10. Reduce climate change.

Growing our own food is a tremendous way to reduce our impact on climate change. “See The Earth Policy Institute”. Most large scale, conventional farming uses tremendous inputs of fossil fuel in the form of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, fuel for machinery, and other indirect means. Fruits or vegetables grown thousands of kilometers away must be refrigerated and shipped from the field to our community. Much of the food (some estimates are as high as 50%) never gets eaten as it is lost due to spoilage at various stages of the production and distribution chain.

When we choose to develop a yard lush with fruit trees, shrubs, vines, and diverse annuals and perennials, we are reducing our own use of fossil fuels and are also contributing to the absorption of CO2. This very simple act can be a major step in redirecting our path towards a more sustainable future.

Help Save The Polar Bears

Sign the Petition

Polar Bear Facts

Common Name: Polar Bear
Latin Name: Ursus Maritimus
Status: Special Concern (according to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada)
Size: Males are typically between 2 and 3 m long and weigh up to 500 kg, though a few weigh as much as 800 kg. Females weigh between 150 to 250 kg.
Population: 22,000 to 27,000
Life Span: 20 to 25 years
Range: Most polar bears live in Canada, but other populations exist in Alaska, Russia, Greenland and Norway.
Threats: climate change, air pollution, oil spills, toxic chemicals.

Effects of Global Warming on Polar Bears

Global warming is melting the polar ice caps, robbing polar bears of the ice floes they need to hunt prey. As the annual sea ice melts, polar bears are forced ashore to spend their summers fasting. If the Arctic ice cap continues to melt sooner and form later, polar bears will become too thin to reproduce and they will become extinct by the end of this century.

The polar bear's home – the Arctic – is experiencing the effects of global warming more than any other place. Temperatures in the Arctic are rising at almost twice the rate of that of the rest of the world, and this is threatening to place the entire Arctic ecosystem in jeopardy.

Arctic sea ice is shrinking by up to 5% every ten years – sea ice that not only provides hunting ground for polar bears, but shelter and transportation for seals, walrus, arctic foxes, and the Inuit people. The underside provides a surface for algae that support cod, char, beluga, and narwhal. The white sea ice also has a cooling effect on climate by reflecting light away from Earth's surface. As it melts, the global warming advances even more quickly.

Herbal Sneaker Tamer

For those of you that need to take care of some stinky shoes. Whether they are yours or not, this is chemical free and natural. From the book The Naturally Clean Home.

2 Cups dried sage
1 1/2 cups dried lemon balm
2 cups cedar chips
1/2 baking soda
2 tablespoons grated orange rind
10 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops lemon essential oil

Combine the dried herbs, cedar chips, baking soda, and orange rind in a glass or ceramic bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon. Add the essential oils and stir to blend. Place half of the mixture in a clean sock and tie the open end shut. Stuff another sock with the remaining mixture and tie shut. Place a stuffed sock in each shoe overnight or when not in use.

Mexican Island Paradise-Made with Bottles?

Found HERE

If you can’t afford to buy your own tropical island paradise, why not build your own? That is exactly what Richie Sowa did back in 1998, from over a quarter-million plastic bottles. His Spiral Island, destroyed years later by a hurricane, sported a two-story house, solar oven, self-composting toilet and multiple beaches. Better yet, he has started building another one! His ultimate goal? To build the island bigger and bigger and finally float out to sea, traveling the world from the comfort of his own private paradise.

The original Spiral Island was (as its successor will be) built upon a floating collection used plastic bottles, all netted together to support a bamboo and plywood structure above. Located in Mexico, the original was 66 by 54 feet and was able to support full-sized mangroves to provide shade and privacy, yet also able to be moved from place to place by its creator as need with a simple motorized system.

An environmentalist to the core, Sowa is also an artist and a musician. More than just the universal dream of an island retreat, Spiral Island is also his vision for low-impact sustainable living. The next version of the island will be built to withstand more treacherous weather than the first and will also be located in a more sheltered part of Mexico’s waters.

The Above Ripley’s Believe-it-or-Not video is a great introduction to the island, which conjures images of Gilligan-done-right. Spiral island is able to exist and move about in Mexico in part because it is classified as a ship, not an island, like an atoll out of WaterWorld (only much much cooler). On September 7, 2007 the new Spiral Islander social network utility was opened to the public to allow visitors, Spiral Islanders and friends of Richie Sowa to connect and communicate about the history of Spiral Island and to learn more and discuss Richie Sowa’s new Spiral Island. Want more islands? See these 7 Island Wonders of the World from WebUrbanist.

I Can See Clearly Now

by Johnny Nash

Singing In The Rain

Here

Protect Old Trees

Found HERE

Forest scientists have come to a surprising conclusion regarding old growth forests and their majestic, mature trees: They’re not just relaxing in their arboreal old age, but are still actively taking in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The new study suggests that protecting old growth forests may be just as important as planting new trees in efforts to reduce carbon dioxide levels and fight global warming.

Previously, researchers believed that only young, fast-growing trees absorbed enough carbon dioxide to be considered significant “carbon sinks.” Old, crowded forests don’t allow for much new growth: The only new growth occurred in the small spaces that opened up when large old trees died and decomposed, releasing their accumulated carbon. The forests at large were therefore considered to be carbon neutral, and accounted as such in climate models [Nature News]. But the new study shows that the slow but continuous growth of old trees means that they continue to suck up more carbon than they release.

For the study, published in the journal Nature [subscription required], researchers examined over 500 studies of forests around the world. They calculated that primary forests in Canada, Russia and Alaska alone absorb about 1.3 gigatonnes of carbon per year, about ten percent of the net global carbon exchange between the ecosystem and the atmosphere. These forests need to be protected not just because they help to absorb carbon dioxide, but also because destroying them could release huge stores of greenhouse gases. “Old-growth forests accumulate carbon for centuries and contain large quantities of it,” [lead researcher Sebastiaan] Luyssaert said. If these pools of CO2 “are disturbed, much of this CO2 will move back into the atmosphere,” he added [AFP].

The new findings suggest that old forests should be included in any policies intended to mitigate global warming. Study co-author Beverly Law says that the findings argue for including credits for preserving old growth forests in the Kyoto Protocol and cap-and-trade schemes for controlling greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming [AP].

Play with a Polar Bear

And answer Eco questions! Click on the picture to Begin!

Homemade Water Colors

I found this recipe on THIS website. I don't have any bottle caps lying around, but you could use any kind of cap really, such as lids from jars of spaghetti. If you have any ice trays lying around, you can use those too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Materials:

3 Tbs. baking soda
3 Tbs. corn starch
3 Tbs. white vinegar
1-1/2 tsp. light corn syrup
food coloring

Steps:

1. Mix vinegar, baking soda, corn starch and corn syrup together in a small bowl.

2. Divide the mixture into several small plastic tubs or jar lids.

3. Add six to eight drops of food coloring to each tub or lid then mix.

4. Use Wacky Watercolors as they are or let them dry into hard cakes of paint. If you use them while they're dry, be sure to wet the paintbrush before painting.
(Original author unknown)

Tips:

Use paste food coloring if you want especially vivid colors and lots of color choices. Some oil based food coloring will not stir in well, but it will blend perfectly by the time it's dry.

Take the opportunity to teach little ones about color mixing. We made purple, green and orange and then went a step further to make mixtures like red-violet and blue-green by adding one part of one primary color to two parts of another. Mix all three primary colors to make brown.

You can make a larger batch and make the paints in an old ice cube tray. Other possible containers are empty watercolor kits and pill boxes (the kind with a compartment for each day of the week).

The more food coloring you add, the more vivid the paints will be.

These take a long time to dry! Ours were in small lids and took about 24 hours.

If you make them in bottle caps, you can store the dry paints in a plastic baggie or even tie a few of them in a small cloth with a ribbon as a sweet gift.

911 Dedication

Warning, this is very sad.

We remember.

I was pregnant with my first child, Celtic. I felt guilty for bringing a child into a world that was showing some much hate. 26 days later, Celtic was born. I still can not bring myself to watch any movies with reference of 911 in them.

~Hyla

Everything is Everything

By Lauryn Hill from her 2003 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

What do you do to be Green?

Here are ways that we live that help us help the Earth. In the comments please name things you do daily to help the environment.

We make our own cleaning products. Things such as shampoo and body wash that can not quite get the hang of making properly, we buy Earth friendly products.
We use soap nuts to do our laundry and a bag of lavender in the dryer.
We use essential oils in room diffusers and not chemical containing air fresheners.
We use stone and essential oils for healing when we can.
We buy books that are used when we can instead of purchasing them brand new.
We guide our friends and family in the ways of living Eco friendly.
We recycle and have cut our two bags of daily garbage down to half a bag of garbage. It really is amazing how much can be recycled.
We try to educate our child's school on the benefits of recycling and using green products. This is turned out to be a fair share of work, but we are still pushing for change.
We try our hardest to avoid bringing anymore plastic into our home.
We only use glass cups and plates now that we picked up from the Thrift shop.
We use reusable shopping bags
We buy organic when that option is available to us
We are teaching our children how to be kind to the Earth
We think about our purchases now and many times we do not make impulse purchases
We turn off our water heater during the day and night. This has reduced our electric by half!
We take shorter showers
We buy recycled paper
We have canceled all of our magazines and added ourselves on the "Do Not Send" list.
We try to consolidate our outings into one trip.
We use Sigg water bottles and we do not purchase drinks that are in plastic when we are out. If we need something to drink we seek out Snapple in the glass bottles.

I am sure there is more and when I think of them I will add them!

Hybrid Taxis for Boston by 2015

By Globe Staff

All Boston taxis will be required to be hybrids by the year 2015, the mayor and police commissioner announced today.

Mayor Thomas Menino said in a statement that requiring taxis to go hybrid will be "an essential step" in improving air quality.

The city said it was also implementing new standards intended to improve taxi service for residents and visitors.

Marckinson Charles, president of the Independent Taxi Operators Association, said, "We're not ready for this. ... If by 2015, we all have to have hybrids, we have a problem."

The association, which includes 360 to 370 taxi owners, has a few members with hybrids. Mostly, they use Ford Crown Victorias. Charles said the hybrid Camry's trunk space is too small for taking travelers and their luggage to and from the airport.

He also said that hybrid car batteries would need to be replaced every few years, estimating the cost to owners at $5,000 each time.

The mayor's office said the new standards that would go into effect in January would require, among other things, that every cab be equipped for credit card payments, and would ban non-essential cellphone use by drivers.

The city also announced that Police Commissioner Ed Davis had approved a rate adjustment for drivers to offset rising fuel costs.

Rates will rise from $13.95 for five miles to $16.20. Previously, the first 1/8 mile had been $2.25 and additional 1/8-mile segments cost 30 cents. Under the new rates, the first 1/7 mile will be $2.60 and additional 1/7-mile segments will cost 40 cents.

George Bachrach, president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, wrote in a July op-ed that taxi drivers deserved a raise after six years without one, but that they should also be required to drive hybrids.

Can a Pizza Box save the World

Can a pizza box save the world? Probably not, but it is one more thing that will help the mainstream continue to come up with new ideas to save the world while getting out the message the "Green id the Future".

Found on Triplepundit.com

Pizza. From it's humble beginnings in Italy, it has become a food enjoyed across the globe. And though the size, shape, and flavor may vary widely, one thing does not. The box. A sturdy utilitarian container, it does a good job keeping the pizza warm, safe, and easy to carry. Billions are used each year. And they're slacking on the job.

Depending on the pizza, having a plate to set it on is a necessity. want to store what you don't eat? Good luck, that bulky box often requires you to muscle other things out of the way to make room. What if the box could double as a plate? And triple as a compact post meal storage container? It can, using the same ol' box, remixed. It's called the Green Box.

green%20pizza%20box.jpg

It's simple really: Take the standard box, perforate the top into quarters, and they can turn into plates. Perforate the edges of the bottom of the box, then once down the middle, and you can fold that into a leftover box that's half the size of the original. Less than that, actually, since the box is wedge shaped.

So, you've made pizza eating easier, and for some, that's all they need to know. A boon to both pizza shop owners and customers. But the impact beyond that could be huge. How? Think about all the other things that would have been used with a normal box: Plates plus the time/water/detergent used washing them. Disposable plates if you're out, likely tossed. Paper towels standing in for plates. Plastic wrap or foil used to cover or wrap the leftovers in a smaller package then that mammoth box.

This may not sound like a lot in terms of one meal, but think for a moment how many pizzas are consumed every day, all over the world. 4.8 billion annually in the US alone. Taking out everything but the box out of that equation, and making it out of recycled paper while you're at it, is a huge score.

And on a broader level, I see this as having the potential to reach a broader population, if the box has green messaging on it, and further suggestions for people to do to lighten their impact on the planet, and let's face it, look cooler to their friends. For some, this may be their first interaction with a greener product, and for the first time, it has relevance to their lives.

E.C.O. Incorporated, the New York based makers of the Green Box, have made a wise move - They could have gone dark green, making it out of agricultural waste based paper, etc etc, appealing to greenest among us. But that would have likely raised the price, and for most pizza shops, a quantity focused industry, that would be a deal breaker. Instead, they took the industry standard box, modified nothing but how it's cut, and made it out of recycled paper, an increasingly cost competitive option.

Why wouldn't a pizza shop do this? They'll have taken a step to be greener, their customers will have a better experience and they too can do their part, and they have a story to tell friends. Pizza Fusion, are you listening?

When Building Green Ain't So Green

By DON FITZ

Look at the web site for the next green builder you see on TV or in the daily paper. Does the site show plans for a home with trees and no parking garage? Or, is it another house plan that tells you how many cars the garage will hold and says nothing about trees?

Many green architects and builders are doing their best to create environmentally friendly homes. But most have a narrow focus on eco-techniques. They rarely understand that current construction is actually making environmental problems worse.

Politicians who promote green building are not helping. Their bandwagon jumping indicates they are not seriously concerned with global warming. US building practices in the early 21st century will probably increase CO2 emissions rather than reduce them.

Wasted energy in homes deserves far more than the shallow attention it is receiving. An estimated 43% of US energy goes to buildings. [1] The average US homes devotes 51% of its energy to heating and 4% to cooling. [2] Over 90% of energy is produced in nasty ways (coal, oil, gas and nukes) that attack human health, lay waste to ecosystems, and release greenhouse gases.

Here's 10 ways that the green building fad is not improving the environment.

1. It ain't green to ignore perfectly good homes.

Many (if not most) US municipalities have a law prohibiting more than three unrelated people from living in the same house. The single most important green building practice would be to eliminate those laws.

Producing a ton of cement results in the creation of a ton of CO2. New homes take a lot of cement, which means emitting a lot of CO2. What's the point of building new homes and apartments when so many homes have empty space from grown children moving out or from a spouse dying?

It wasn't that many decades ago that Americans dealt with issues of isolation and finances by renting out empty space. Or some people got a bigger house for the purpose of renting rooms. Now, that could get you a citation.

This is just one way our grandparents were environmentally friendly without thinking about it. During a recent eco-house tour, I asked if it had an attic fan, and the builder replied that, no, it would not be energy efficient to circulate hot air through the house. I explained that you should use an attic fan to pull cool air through the downstairs early in the morning and close the windows so it stays 65 to 75 degrees throughout the day. He looked at me like he wasn't' quite sure if such a strange idea would work.

There's something terribly wrong with "green" building practices that have no memory of traditions like renting bedroom space, designing cross-ventilation, and using fans instead of costly gadgets.

2. It ain't green to build massive homes.

Alex Wilson wrote that the size of US homes more than doubled between the 1950s and 2003. [3]. At the same time, the number of people living in homes decreased, meaning that the average space per person had grown three-fold by the beginning of this century.

Wilson shows that eco-practices don't solve the size problem. Poorly insulated homes of 1500 square feet use less energy than well insulated homes of 3000 square feet. Economies of scale do not make larger homes more efficient per square foot. Bigger homes use proportionally more lumber and other materials due to higher walls and they lose efficiency from longer runs for ducts and pipes.

Stan Cox discovered that many home owners associations actually require this huge waste by dictating minimum square footage for homes and garages with space for two or more cars. [4]. One reason for increased space is that middle class American buy (or receive as presents) more and more crap that they use one or zero times and then store until they die and their relatives clean out their home.

There is considerable psychological research showing that increasing the quantity of possessions only leads to big increases in happiness when it helps move people out of poverty After that, there is diminishing returns, with large increases in possessions doing nothing for life satisfaction. [5]

It's similar with quantity of living space per person. Most Americans grew up in a home where boys shared one room and girls shared another. The trend towards a private bedroom for every child probably has no effect on happiness while harming kids' ability to share. Excessive space in homes damages the environment and encourages the anti-social value of lavish greed.

3. It ain't green to encourage urban sprawl.

Builders love to advertise that a home can be designed green for any income range in any location. Really? This thinking reflects a profound disconnect between designing homes and planning urban areas. How can a home possibly be green if its location requires long distance commuting for work, school, shopping and recreation?

To its credit, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards give credit if a new home is built on an existing lot, which encourages use of vacant urban space. This is a positive band aide, as band aides go. But aren't we long past recognizing the huge environmental destructiveness of replacing farms and parks with pavement? Wouldn't a government seriously concerned with global warming figure out a way to halt it?

4. It ain't green to build as if space for homes has nothing to do with transportation.

Detroit and St. Louis are some of the worst examples of US cities which have huge vacant areas in the center which are surrounded by vast suburbs. This damages the ability to have an efficient mass transportation system, which requires high density to (a) make sure bus and train cars are full and (b) enable people to walk and bike for most trips.

Oblivious to issues of density, green builders typically advertise how many cars fit into their eco-friendly garages. The vision of neighborhoods without cars, without driveways and without parking spaces does not make it into many design plans.

5. It ain't green to ignore advantages of multi-family homes.

A few green apartments, condos, co-ops and co-housing units are being constructed. They should be commended. Multi-family homes are clearly the best way to mesh green building with green transportation. They cut land space usage by at least a half more for taller buildings. This creates more density and/or more green space. Since many people rarely venture into their yards, multi-family homes are likely to have smaller average yard space, but space that is actually used rather than merely serving to sprawl people apart.

Multi-family homes are much more efficient, both during construction and use. There is more sharing of mechanical systems, less building material used, and less heat loss because there is less surface area. Architect Bryan Bowan estimates that just sharing walls "can reduce energy consumption by 20-30%." [6]

However, some of the most notorious public housing projects were touted as building up to preserve green spaces. It is just as important to ensure that the amount of space per person is not too low as it is to prevent it from going too high. One approach would be requiring condos, apartments, co-housing and co-ops to make 20-30% of their units available to low income families and making sure federal dollars finance it.

6. It ain't green to pretend that there is no advantage to building underground.

Sometimes it is necessary to build a single family home especially if there is an empty lot too small for a multi-family unit. But why not take advantage of the more constant temperatures underground? If you've ever been in a cave, you know they are naturally "air conditioned" in the summer and naturally warmed in the winter.

Rob Roy uses the groundbreaking ideas of architect Malcolm Wells to describe how to construct "earth-sheltered" homes. By building a house 6 to 8 feet below grade level (for a single story home, a few feet more for two stories), Roy says it "is like moving 1000 miles to the south." In northern New York, where he lives, earth temperature varies from 40 degrees to 60 degrees. [7]

When I walk around St. Louis, I see new homes going up which universally ignore the benefits of building partially underground. By far, the most typical design for both single-family and multi-family homes is to build the garage as part of the basement. The most earth-comforted member of the family is the family car.

7. It ain't green to not know what the word "green" means.

You might think that every green builder realizes that "green" means plants and that trees would be an inherent part of the design. Not so. If you tour a green building, notice if the tour guide points out where some trees are placed for summer shading and other trees are placed to break the chilling winds of winter.

This actually happens for some green homes; but as the fad catches on, most builders focus on the latest energy efficiency gadgets. Like attic fans and cross ventilation, the traditional knowledge of trees seems to be fading from architectural memory.

Earth-sheltered homes take "green" to a higher level by growing plants in dirt on the roof. Though earth by itself is not a good insulator, plants do insulate. And earth holds snow, which is a very good insulator. In the summer, rooftop plants offer shade and moisture evaporation cools the roof. The dirt helps protect the home from fire and noise.

8. It ain't green to protect the environment with one hand while destroying it with the other.

Virtually everyone involved in green building promotes it as the new growth industry. Huh? There will be huge single-family houses built on expansive lots with energy efficient devices which are constructed and transported using fossil fuels. And there will be more each year to help fuel the gross domestic product (GDP) and serve as an extravagant growth model for the rest of the world. If this is how you protect the environment, how would you destroy it?

When you tour a green home, see if there is a sign next to the washing machine connection which says "Since clothes dryers are the greatest energy hogs and clothes lines work just as well, there is no space for a dryer." You might look a long time for that sign. Green homes tend to encourage the owner to use as many electricity-based appliances as possible. Though individual gadgets in green homes are more energy efficient, they are part of an overall dynamic which increases the use of electricity each year.

9. It ain't green to build homes that will not outlast our grandchildren.

The biggest problem with building a green home is that it is a new building. At a recent Green Party forum, I asked if anyone lived in an old home. A few people said they live in a 100- or 110-year-old home. A refugee from the Green Party of Germany then pointed out that an "old" home in Europe was 300, 400 or 500 years old.

Buildings in the US have a life expectancy of 50 years. [8] The Sierra Club wants to reduce energy consumption by 60-80% by 2050. [9] The fact that current construction assumes that homes will last an average of 50 years means that when 2050 is reached, it will be about time to begin replacing the energy efficient homes that are currently being constructed. That's not energy efficient.

One green home I toured had casement windows which were guaranteed for 10 years. 10 years?

If the manufacturer cannot guarantee that windows will endure, how many other parts of the home are designed to fall apart and require energy and resources for replacement? (Maybe we're supposed to appreciate that replacing the planned obsolescence will be done with great energy efficiency.)

10. Voluntary green ain't green.

No one who wants to reduce highway deaths advocates that drinking while driving should be voluntary or that everyone should choose whether they drive on the left or right side of the road. The most pathetic aspect of the environmental movement is people parading their lifestyle choices as if individual decisions could ever make the GDP go down instead of up.

If politicians actually believed that there were crises in peak oil and global warming they would spend less time getting their picture in the paper every time a green home is built. Instead, they would be drafting legislation requiring not only energy efficient devices but a whole range of changes in the way space is used for living and transportation.

What would deep green building be?

The first step in deep green building would be rejecting the absurd idea that you can do it one home at a time. The architects and builders I have met seem to be sincere people who are trying to do the best they can. But most jump to expensive green gadgets or efficiency systems before looking for low-tech solutions. A more basic problem is seeing the issue as home design rather than city redesign.

Urban structure hamstrings the creation of truly green homes. The clearest example is transportation. The absence of efficient mass transportation compels the construction of garages and driveways. It makes no sense to build homes without garages if there is no way to get around without a car.

Cars destroy neighborhoods, which should be the building blocks of city living. Urban space should have workplaces, stores, schools, parks and churches located so that most can be reached by bicycling or walking and all can be reached by train or bus. A good goal would be for the average city person to complete 80% of trips by walking or bicycling and 80% of the remaining trips should be reachable by train or bus. This would mean that cars would only be necessary for 4% of trips. (If the figures for most trips were 90% and 90%, cars would only be necessary for 1% of trips.)

If people could get to where they needed to go without a car, they would be vastly more interested in living in a co-op or co-housing unit which had no individual parking spaces and relied on motor pool vehicles that could be reserved for that 4% (or 1%) of trips. The rebirth of neighborhoods based on the drastic reduction in use of cars would fundamentally alter the way homes are designed.

In order to make most trips accessible by walking or bicycling, urban space requires the high density of multi-family homes. People need enough space to be comfortable, but they do not need the gargantuan space of current suburban homes. Society needs to minimize energy utilized in the construction of homes, living in them, and getting around from home to other places.

Integrating ideas of ecology and neighborhood development would mean using the following principles in deep green housing: existing homes should maximize traditional practices such as renting rooms to boarders, attic fans and trees for heating/cooling; parking spaces should be reduced by 95% and replaced with parks or new homes or buildings; new homes should be multi-family or earth-sheltered single-family; and, no new building plan should be approved until its design documents that it should last 300 to 500 years.

The very last step of deep green building would be utilizing the many types of eco-stuff that have been introduced in recent years. Just a few of what are available include heating/cooling systems that use 50% less energy; geothermal systems that utilize temperatures beneath a home; insulating glass; solar panels; solatubes that can provide light to basements from the second floor; and earth building with natural materials or salvage materials.

The problem is when the eco-gadget tail wags the urban dog. Thinking of green homes as nothing but a sum of eco-gadgets leads to viewing cities as nothing but a sum of eco-homes. The inability to design green neighborhoods means eco-homes actually help perpetuate urban sprawl.

The "shallow green" approach to buildings may look like it is a step in the right direction, but it is not. By failing to come to grips with the economics of growth, current green building practices are increasing the efficiency of components of houses at the same time they contribute to the overall expansion of energy usage, thereby increasing toxic wastes and greenhouse gas emissions.

Building practices that ain't green have a gadget fetish that is blind to the big picture. Deep green building would focus on low-tech and no-tech solutions. Deep green building would integrate transportation into home design. Deep green building would aim to improve living space while decreasing the gross domestic product, a concept which is anathema to shallow green economics.

Don Fitz is editor of Synthesis/Regeneration: A Magazine of Green Social Thought, which is sent to members of The Greens/Green Party USA. He would like to receive data estimating the total percentage of energy savings on multi-family homes compared to single-family homes of the same size. He can be contacted at fitzdon@aol.com

911 for Peace - Anti Flag

911 for Peace by Anti Flag from the 2002 album Mobilize.

Google Users

A Note to Google Users on Net Neutrality:

The Internet as we know it is facing a serious threat. There's a debate heating up in Washington, DC on something called "net neutrality" – and it's a debate that's so important Google is asking you to get involved. We're asking you to take action to protect Internet freedom.

In the next few days, the House of Representatives is going to vote on a bill that would fundamentally alter the Internet. That bill, and one that may come up for a key vote in the Senate in the next few weeks, would give the big phone and cable companies the power to pick and choose what you will be able to see and do on the Internet.

Today the Internet is an information highway where anybody – no matter how large or small, how traditional or unconventional – has equal access. But the phone and cable monopolies, who control almost all Internet access, want the power to choose who gets access to high-speed lanes and whose content gets seen first and fastest. They want to build a two-tiered system and block the on-ramps for those who can't pay.

Creativity, innovation and a free and open marketplace are all at stake in this fight. Please call your representative (202-224-3121) and let your voice be heard.

Thanks for your time, your concern and your support.

Eric Schmidt

http://www.google.ie/help/netneutrality_letter.html

UFO Car- Solar Panel Power

For two years Marcelo da Luz, from Canada, has been driving his unique solar power vehicle around North America in an attempt to set a world distance record for a solar vehicle. Originally posted in 2006 on AutoBlogGreen. The Power of 1 (or Xof1 for short) has been pulled over 7 times by police. And recently in Alaska, a concerned citizen reported a UFO siting and the police immediately began to persue. Imagine their amazment when they found out they were actually following a UFO. And that it pulled over for them. I am sure they were a little apprehensive to see what or who was inside! It can drive on a dry road or one covered with ice. I am not actually sure where the driver sits, maybe it is romote control?! No, it is drivin by a human and can go 0-60mph in 6 seconds!

"Marcelo is not an engineer or a scientist, however, at this point he should be considered an expert in the field of solar vehicle technology. He describes himself as Xof1's project catalyst which essentially means he used his vision to bring together the necessary experts, materials, components and capital to develop a state-of-the-art, single-seat solar vehicle.

Weighing in at about 660 lbs. (including driver), the Xof1 solar car uses a 96 volt brushless DC motor with a 3.8 kW lithium-ion battery system that will bring the vehicle from 0-60 in just 6 seconds.

Marcelo told me the idea of starting Xof1 came about years ago as he began to realize that we're a "society of hypocrites" when it came to energy policies. He saw the need for the development of sustainable renewable energy technologies and was inspired by the World Solar Challenge. The route which Marcelo plans to take will cover roughly 14,000 miles of Canada.

For additional details, news updates and videos, visit Xof1's website located at www.xof1.com."

Around the World -Daft Punk

From the 1997 Daft Punk album titled Homework.

Amala Beauty

Company Name:Amala Beauty
Site Link: http://www.amalabeauty.com
Location:Sulzberg, Germany and Montclair, NJ
Ships To: International and Domestic

What materials do you are used in your ECO friendly products?

We use only whole plant ingredients. Whole plant ingredients are unaltered from their original state so they will retain their unique healing benefits, nurturing properties and maximum effectiveness.

Our plants are grown in their ideal growing regions on organic farms, which allows them to thrive and their essences to reach peak potential. When gently extracted and incorporated into our skincare treatments, each whole plant ingredient provides a truly unique, therapeutic benefit that isolated ingredients simply can't. Working with whole plants is a complex, time-consuming process, but one that's well worth the reward.

We use only food-grade, 100% natural emulsifiers, and are the first premium skincare to be formulated with exclusive organic emulsifiers.

How long has the business been up and running?

Amala is about two years old, but our parent company, Primavera has been doing business in Germany and abroad for over 20 years. They are a highly regarded and recognized European brand.

How was the company founded?

Amala was founded by Ute Leube over 20 years ago in the Bavarian Alps. She started blending organic skin care for her friends and family, and grew the business into an established leader in organic skin care in Germany.

Do you enjoy working for this company?

I love my job. I've been working with Ute and her team for 5 years, and I no longer retain any clients in the commercial skin care arena (in which I worked for 8 years). The Amala team is dedicated to quality, social responsibility and natural beauty, all things I am currently passionate about, so it's a good fit.

Anything else you would like to add?

Just for your blog readers. Enter the code SAMPLE1 at checkout to receive $10 off a $100 order.

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Interview questions answered by Etsy Seller littlebrownpen
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Land of Confusion

From the 2005 Disturbed CD Ten Thousand Fists.

This is a cover of the original song by Genesis in 1986.

w/luv!!! Art by Dana Alexis Miller

Name: Dana Alexis Miller
Shop Name: w/luv!!!
Location: Brooklyn
Ships To: Everywhere, even space...

On a daily basis, what inspires your art?

My friends and family are great for inspiration, their antics and eccentricities are great material. Also, I go to art school so I am constantly exposed to work, which also helps (and hinders) the process. Sketch books are also indispensable places to gather ideas, even if you just us them to staple bits of paper you find, it helps.

Photos are linked to the Artist's shop

What particularly inspired the "Ignoring the Problem" set?

The set started with "liberation", I had just finished reading 1984 for like the 500th time and during a crit for another artist's work we were talking about how to use current events in a way that effective and accessible to everyone, and I came up with this drawing while thinking about how terrorism is a GLOBAL problem, not and American problem.

Do you use any ECO friendly products in your day to day life?

I have recently switched to plant based cleaners, and I try to use reusable bags as much as possible. I'm also trying to go completely organic or at least buy my produce at my local farmers market

Besides your artwork, how do spread awareness?

I nag my family about buying organic and try to explain the health issues tied in with pesticides.

How did you get into your art and how long have you been doing it?

I've always been into creative things, I could crochet at a very young ages, but it wasnt till HS that i decided that I wanted to really do something with it. I am currently in my senior year of undergrad and I plan on going to grad school to get a masters in art education.

When did you start showing it to others?

I had to in HS, its hard putting your self out there for criticism, but it helps you grow as a person, it makes you gain confidence and teaches you to stand up for yourself.

Anything else you would like to add?

I think anyone can make art, and I think everyone should.

I have a blog too: http://danaalexis.blogspot.com

Pink Combat Tank?

Yep you heard right! A combat tank which was used in World War I, has been covered with pink crocheted and knitted squares as a protest against the involvement of the USA's and UK's military in Iraq. The art consists of more than 4,000 pink squares that measure 15 X 15 centimeters!

"They represent a common acknowledgment of a resistance to the war in Iraq. Unsimilar to a war, knitting signals home, care, closeness and time for reflection."

"When it is covered in pink, it becomes completely unarmed and it loses it's authority. Pink becomes a contrast in both material and color when combined with the tank "

Video Documentary on the Site

One World-Where is the LOVE

From the 2004 Black Eyed Peas Album, Elephunk.

Original Video can be seen here. I can not embed that one, but the following one has the lyrics!

Organic Gifts for Children - NOT "made in china"

All Photos are linked to the Product

Look no further for Christmas for the kids! Oompa Toys has organic toys and furniture for all ages. Made in Europe and the USA ,the company boosts;

"NO BATTERIES. NO BLINKING LIGHTS. NO CARTOON-THEMED TOYS. PERIOD. We offer our constantly expanding collection of European wooden toys, baby toys, educational toys, jewelry, bags and modern children's furniture to urbane and discerning adults who want to expose the young children in their lives to non-character branded, quality toys that are designed to withstand generations of use. We believe baby toys should be natural, safe, non-violent and from manufacturers who provide safe and nurturing environments for their employees. We believe in fair, competitive pricing and strive for 100% customer satisfaction." Read More

Out of the 131 organic products they have listed, 59 of them are under $25! They have finger puppets, chew toys, bamboo bowls, spoons, and forks! Building blocks, pillows, rag dolls, toy storage, chairs, and more!

They offer loyalty points which are points you accumulate by purchasing their products writing product reviews, reporting bugs on the site and referring friends and family. You earn 1.25 points for every dollar you spend and every 45 points earns you 1 dollar off your next purchase.

They also have more ECO friendly toys on their site, so be sure to check them out for this next holiday season!

Infinite Cosmos Hemp

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Note from the blog owner: Hemp does not come from a marijuana plant. It is often a misconception that the two are the same thing. Please read HERE for more information.
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Shop Name: Infinite Cosmos Hemp
Shop Link: http://infinitecosmoshemp.etsy.com
Location: in the country outside of Eugene, Oregon
Ships To: worldwide!

What materials are used for your ECO friendly products?
I love hemp, bamboo, organic cotton, recycled materials (i have a lot of animals and their food comes in these nifty feedbags and i use them to make purses, pouches and wallets!), and fiber reactive procion dye to dye my fabrics

Why did you decide to sell ECO friendly products?
There are so many pollutants in our daily environment that we simply cannot escape such as car exhaust, scary stuff pumped into streams and into the air from gross factories, even heavy metals in things like computers!! Its enough to make your head spin. So I like to reduce my harmful chemical intake and my carbon footprint as much as I can by supporting organic and green companies and suppliers.

What inspires you?
When I dye fabrics, I get inspired by the colors I see in nature. It can be hard for me at times to step outside my favorite colors (green, brown, rust and gold) but lately I've been making more of an effort! My daughter is 3.5 years old and like every young girl, she likes pink so she has inspired me to explore the wonderful world of girly, bright colors!!

How long have you had your shop on Etsy?
Well I have had my fabric store on etsy since April of '08 but I have been helping my husband sell his lovely glass work in our other etsy shop ( http://infinitecosmosgirl.etsy.com ) since September of last year. I originally opened our glass etsy shop for my hemp clothing but with a very busy toddler, it became harder and harder to find time to sew, so that shop sat dormant until last year. Then one day I decided to add a few glass items into the ICGirl shop and almost instantly saw results sooo...the rest is history I guess!

Is this a job for you or a hobby?
The fabric selling/dying business is a mix of both hobby and job for me. I absolutely love to work with fabric and some months it can be very profitable for us! My favorite part of selling fabric is that I meet so many wonderful, creative and inspirational people. We come together through our love of eco friendly fabrics and it is awesome!!

How did you get into your craft?
I first started working with fabric back in my days of Phish tour in high school. I made and sold patchwork clothing to help me fund my addiction to seeing live music. The more I learned about hemp and organic fabrics, the more I became intrigued. I eventually started buying and dying fabric with which to make beautiful eco friendly clothing. I don't have as much time to sew these days so rather than sewing for profit, I mostly just sew for my daughter and myself. I fund my addiction to beautiful fabric by sharing my stash with all my eco conscious designer friends out there!

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners?
Do what you love because you LOVE it, not because you want to be a millionaire!

Anything else you would like to add?
You can make a living doing what you love and my husband and I are living proof of this! Both of us started out homeless and penniless but now we are living our dream life, selling our crafts. It's all about believing you CAN!!

Whale Shark Video

USB Rechargeable Batteries

These are amazing! I stumbled upon a site that was featuring USB powered devices and that is where I found this amazing invention.

They work as normal AA batteries and can be used in anything that requires AA batteries. But the funky thing is, when you need to recharge them, just look for a computer, pop off the top and plug them into the USB spots.

I am loving these! You can purchase them on Amazon.com

Under the product details on Amazon.com;

"Ideal for use with wireless mice, keyboards, game controllers, and other household products with no need to carry or find a separate charger. Easily rechargeable on the go, in the office or at home. USBCELLs can be charged hundreds of times saving you money and helping reduce environmental waste. USBCELLs are NiMH 1.2v batteries with 1300mAh capacity.

The USBCELL has been designed for real-world ease of use. By opening the cap and plugging into any powered USB port, you can recharge pretty much anywhere there's a USB socket. By making it easier to recharge batteries we can help the environment: easier recharging means more frequent use, which means fewer disposable batteries get made and thrown away.

In a powered USB socket, USBCELL should take about 5 hours to charge to over 90% of capacity, sooner if the battery was only partly depleted. Thanks to the intelligent charging circuitry of USBCELL, it's OK to "top up" or just partially charge USBCELL if you need the power in a hurry; NiMh batteries aren't affected by partial charging or 'memory' problems, unlike Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) batteries. As with most rechargeable NiMH batteries, you may find that maximum capacity is reached only after a few full charge and discharge cycles.

Charge your USBCELLs using your laptop or desktop PC...

USBCELLs can be used in any electronic device that takes AA batteries: from MP3 players and noise-canceling headphones, to wireless gaming controllers, to remotes, digital cameras, flashlights and more. The USBCELL can help protect the environment (and save you money) by reducing the amount of waste batteries, and both the packaging and the USBCELL itself can be recycled.. If used properly, you should be able to recharge a USBCELL about 500 times before they lose a significant amount of their capacity.

And not only can USBCELLs be charged by your powered USB ports, they can also be charged in a standard approved 250 mAh recharger. With more choices for power sources, you need never be without AA power readily at hand ever again."

Together We Can Repower America

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!

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.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

Soap Nuts - 100% Natural Laundry Detergent

This picture was taken by the blogger, please make sure to link to this blog if you borrow my picture!

Soap Nuts are becoming a well known word in the Green Community. I first found them on Etsy.com and thought it was a hoax. The listing claimed that with the shell from this fruit I could clean my clothes with no detergent..........hmmmm........ok. So I did some Google-ing and came up with a Wikipedia reference.

"Soap nuts, also known as Sapindus, contain saponin, a natural detergent which is used to clean clothes. Soap nuts, especially Sapindus mukorossi, have become popular as an environmentally friendly alternative to manufactured, chemical detergents . A few nuts can be placed in a cotton drawstring bag in with a washload and reused several times. Soap nuts are safe for washing silk, woolens and other delicate fabrics.

Soap nuts, especially Sapindus mukorossi, are used medically as an expectorant, emetic, contraceptive, and for treatment of excessive salivation, epilepsy, chlorosis, and migraines. Studies show that saponin from soap nuts inhibits tumor cell growth. Soap nuts are among the list of herbs and minerals in Ayurveda. They are a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic shampoos and cleansers. They are used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and for removing freckles. Soap nuts have gentle insecticidal properties and are traditionally used for removing lice from the scalp.

Soap nuts are antimicrobial and are beneficial for septic systems and greywater. Soap nuts are used in the remediation of contaminated soil. They are used by jewelers, especially in India and Indonesia, to remove the tarnish from silver and other precious metals.

Sapindus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) species including Endoclita malabaricus."

This picture was taken by the blogger, please make sure to link to this blog if you borrow my picture!

The price was right so I decided to give it ago. I ordered the soap nuts and then told my husband about them when he came home. He was also skeptical but he lives by Wikipedia, so all I had to do was show him the entry. He was game! It took a couple of days and we received the soap nuts in the mail. The package included a drawstring bag and instructions on use.

Place 6-8 soap nuts in the bag provided.

Close the bag and place in the washer with your laundry. Remove the bag of soapnuts before placing the clothes in the dryer and let them air dry.

When the soap nuts because squishy remove the old soapnuts and replace them with another 6-8 soap nuts. Toss the old soap nuts out in your lawn or compost pile.

We have been using the soap nuts for about 4months now and we love them. We usually get about 8-10 loads out of 1 bag of soap nuts! They have no scent. So your clothes have no smell but you can solve this by placing a small bag of lavender buds in the dryer with the cloths. The soap nuts clean the clothes very well. But I do suggest that if you have a little messy baby in the home, you might want to separate those clothes into a different load to get the extra food out of the clothes or pre-soak the baby clothes before adding them to the wash.

This picture was taken by the blogger, please make sure to link to this blog if you borrow my picture!

We made our first purchase from the Etsy Shop StudioOm this seller has now moved her soap nut supplies to a seperate website, located here, StudioOm Website and we have had a chance to purchase our second larger supply from this website which also takes Paypal and was a smooth transaction. (The website is having technical difficulties right now)

I highly reccomend using soap nuts if not only to be the greenest way to wash your laundry but the absolute cheapest way. If you have been using soap nuts or plan on trying them out make sure to leave a comment, I would love to hear from you!

While the above sellers sight is down, try shopping with this seller .

Survivorman-Off The Grid

Nomad Needles

Name: Robyn Crispe
Shop Name: Nomad Needles
Shop Link: http://nomadneedles.etsy.com
Location: Boulder, CO
Ships To: US
What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products?
Although I am making several different items, my signature product is The Worm Inn, which is made out of Cordura. I am able to buy this from a local supplier. I also use 2 cordlocks, some cording and mesh for the cover.
This is a bag I designed which facilitates a type of vermicomposting method (or worm composting) called “continuous flow”. It’s important to have a sturdy, waterproof material so this product holds up to the composting process. This link provides a concise description as well as photos of the Worm Inn.

http://www.nomadneedles.com/theworminn

Vermicomposting uses Red Wiggler worms to breakdown food waste and is a great way for people to compost indoors and reduce the amount of food waste that would otherwise be headed for landfills.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products?
I live in a condo and was discouraged by the food waste I was throwing out since I cannot have a compost pile outside. I found an article on a blog about “continuous flow” vermicomposting and realized this was exactly what I needed to do. One thing led to another and soon I came up with this bag that I could hang in my tiny laundry room that provided a way for me to compost my food scraps. It works like a charm and is very efficient. It’s a very useful product that significantly reduces the amount of food that would otherwise be thrown out. This practice in turn eliminates the waste that ends up in landfills and reduces the resulting methane gas, a greenhouse gas that contributes toward global warming.
(http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/organics/food/fd-basic.htm)

What inspires you?
I find myself inspired by lots of ideas and situations, most of them unexpected - I’m just moved in some way. But I find myself most inspired by mornings as it represents possibility – every morning is a new opportunity to start over, tweak something that isn’t working, learn something new, and adjust habits. I invite creativity in each day and this is when ideas begin to take root. I’m also inspired by hiking or running. If I’m hiking I always carry something to take notes on so I can capture ideas that come to me. I see every day as an opportunity to live creatively.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy?
I established my shop in May of 2008 but did not start posting items until July. I started with just a few of the Worm Inns, but have since added other items.

Is this a job for you or a hobby?
I guess it’s both. I was looking to quit my former job because I’d grown weary of my 2 hour round trip bus commute, and I also needed a creative outlet. Earlier in the year I’d come up with the idea for the Worm Inn and it just seemed like a natural progression to see if I could interest people in this concept and sell it on Etsy. I also knit and have begun to post those items as well. I also have other sewn items that will be posted, but The Worm Inn is what I’m most proud of.

How did you get into your craft?
My mom taught me to sew when I was in grade school. For the last several years I’ve pursued a pretty low-impact, simple life. Plus I’ve always been drawn toward the concept of earning a living by selling something I create myself. When I discovered vermicomposting it seemed that all these factors came together at the same time and it just made sense to me that I would make and sell something that I designed and had a positive environmental impact.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners?
Know that learning to sell on Etsy is a process. Be patient but try to make a positive move forward every day, whether it’s posting at least one item, or making something or applying something you read on a forum post – I’ve learned a lot by reading the forums and seeing what does and doesn’t work for others.

Anything else you would like to add?
I think a lot of people know about traditional outdoor composting, but not as many are familiar with vermicomposting. This provides a simple and fun way of composting for folks who would like to compost but think they cannot because of where they live. I really enjoy telling people about this practice since it is so effective and easy to set up. For folks who need a place to start I recommend they check out www.redwormcomposting.com. There is a lot of good, friendly advice there with videos, pictures and step-by-step instructions on starting out. This is geared toward vermicomposting in a bin instead of a bag, but the principles are the same. In fact, it was an article on this site that ignited my idea for The Worm Inn.
Also, be bold about trying new ideas. And keep moving forward – this will keep you inspired to stay on your creative path.

Isn't this a Wonderful World?

In 1969, two Australians living in London purchased a 35-pound lion cub from the exotic animal division of Harrod's department store. For a full year, John Rendall and Anthony Bourke raised the cub as their pet, permitting him to lounge freely in the furniture shop they co-owned and even join them for an occasional meal at a local restaurant. In 1972, after the lion had grown too large to properly be cared for, he was taken to Kenya and--rather remarkably--reintroduced to the wild. Two years later, Rendall and Bourke paid a visit to Kenya to see their old friend. They were told the lion would never remember them. Watch what happened. Found Here

Let's keep this world, the only one we've got, a wonderful place to live and breath. Start lowering your carbon footprint today. Become a daily reader of this blog. Educate yourself and others.

Ways to Conserve Energy Use

Did you know?

Of all the appliances in your home, your refrigerator uses the most electricity. If everyone in the U.S. used the most efficient refrigerators, the savings of electricity would erase the need for about 20-30 power plants.
Having dual-pane glass with storm or thermal windows allows air to act as an insulator between the two panes. This keeps heated air where it belongs, rather than letting it leak out of the house.
During the summer, you can save up to 10% -20% of your cooling costs just by raising the temperature of your home to 78 degrees or higher.
Energy costs for your home are not limited to within the home. Your yard landscape can affect your home's use of energy and your energy costs. By using shading devices or planting deciduous plants to shade your home and windows, you can save up to 8% on cooling costs.

GE tankless Water Heater-Click on picture for more information

Here are some great and effective tips for saving energy in your home:

Install appropriate insulation. A home without proper insulation does not keep the warm or cool temperatures you pay to maintain throughout the season. Having proper insulation can reduce your heating and cooling costs by as much as 20%. If you live somewhere where replacing the insulation is not possible, try blackout curtains on your windows, these are especially helpful to keep closed when the sun is shining directly in those specific windows.
Use your exhaust fans sparingly. Believe it or not, they can carry away a houseful of warmed or cooled air in just one hour of being on. Try not to use the oven a lot during the summer. This can help keep your electric bill down by not using this large appliance and not having to try to cool your home long after the oven has been turned off due to it still giving off heat. Most of the time a toaster oven can replace oven cooking when the cooking is not a very large meal. The same settings can usually be used but until your are used to using the toaster oven for everyday cooking, make sure to keep an eye on your food.
Replace the light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent light bulbs. They are slightly more expensive at the time of purchase, but they will save you nearly $30 or more, over the life of each bulb. Make sure that if one breaks, you contact your local recycling company to find out were you can properly dispose of the broken bulb. Also if you have extra money to go green, look into LED light bulbs, they are truly expensive, but will save tons of money and energy in the long run.
Turn off certain electronics when not in use. About 40% of electricity is actually used while the products are turned OFF! Those little "not in use" lights on the electronics use up a lot of energy, go figure. We have all of our TV related electronics connected to one surge protector, when we are not using anything in that area and especially when we are not at home we make sure to flip the switch and turn everything completely off. Now the VCR does not like this, and shows up with a blue channel screen when we go to use it, but that problem is solved by just turning off the VCR and turning it back on. (Yes, we still have a VCR, actually we have two, but we also have kids! And VHS movies are less destructible than DVDs!) We also have easy access to our circuit breaker and we will flip the hot water tank off after everyone has taken their showers in the morning. This leaves enough water for daily cleaning and what not. But at the same time we are not paying to heat the water all day and night that we are not using. In the morning we turn it back on 1/2 hour before the first person takes a shower. This cut our electricity bill in half!
Control lighting with dimmer switches or timers. You could save up to 7% -10% on the costs of lighting in your home.
Have your home assessed to determin its energy efficiency. Doing so will give you ideas of whereto begin to start saving energy and money within your home.

You can sign up for more tips, by visiting THIS SITE.

How to Make a Solar Powered Generator

You can make your own solar powered generator for less than $300. This is awesome for power outages as well as the path to living off the grid.

Supplies you will need:

12 or 16 volt solar panel

12 volt deep cycle battery

1 battery box

12 volt DC meter

1 DC input

Drill

insulated wire

bungee cord

Now go to this link to find easy Do-It-Yourself instructions on how to build your very own solar powered generator!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

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Friday, September 26, 2008

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Thursday, September 25, 2008

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

About Ecotricity

How Does A Species Get "Listed?"

Monday, September 15, 2008

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Friday, September 12, 2008

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Monday, September 8, 2008

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Here are some great and effective tips for saving energy in your home:

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