Known as the “world’s most reliable organizer,” author Jamie Novak has the solution we’ve all been looking for: the Get Organized Answer Book.

Clutter isn’t just about haphazardly-placed stuff – it drags down your entire life. According to Jamie, about 80% of all the clutter in every home or office is a result of disorganization, not lack of space. So why do we keep buying big houses and storage units? Because we need a simple, easy-to-use organizational system that we can extend throughout our lives.

Step-by-step, question-by-question, Jamie guides us readers through how, when, and where to start – plus motivation to keep going day in and day out. Her repeated advice: start small. Just like getting into shape, every little bit of action counts, and once you start sorting one area, you will be inspired to start again with another.

I openly admit that I am quite partial to the Get Organized Answer Book’s last chapter, entitled “Simply Green Organizing.” That obvious note aside, the entire book is a perfect reference tool to have on your shelf. While reading through the whole book is immensly useful, you can easily look at the start of each chapter to see a full list of the questions Jamie answers – jump to the one you need and it is all explained in less than a page.

Though I consider myself naturally organized, I can always use a bit of extra help. Jamie Novak’s Get Organized Answer Book is just what I need to keep my occassional clutter in check (especially my unnatural interest in anything made of out paper, haha).

There is certainly something to be said for being a trailblazer, and all of the crafters in this book represent a second coming-of-age for not only the handmade community, but also an entire generation. “I was going to all these fairs and I remember thinking: Something big is happening. This has to be documented,” said Faythe Levine, the book’s co-author in her September 2008 New York Times interview.

Faythe is also the director of an accompanying Handmade Nation documentary, which is currently being screened at festivals worldwide. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing it yet, but each and every review I’ve read has raved about its honest and inspirational tone. All upcoming viewings are listed on both the documentary’s official website and the Handmade Nation blog (I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a Boston screening).

If, by some strange twist of fate, you haven’t seen the documentary either, check out the trailer and the vibrant stop-motion opening sequence.

Bottom line: this book is a must-have for any crafter, professional or purely personal. Whenever you feel down on your work or are losing direction, just grab your copy of Handmade Nation and you will be revitalized by others who have stuck to their guns and helped to change the entire marketplace.

With a cabinet full of tomes and a passion for publishing, it should come as no surprise that I love my local library. Every week, I’m checking out something new. I also have a large Word file that has a list of all the books I want to borrow in the future. Yup, I am an organized library geek – go figure!

NEW is the word du jour around my blog lately, and that is going to continue with the launch of yet another new column: Library Lexicon. In here, you’ll find reviews & commentary on, you guessed it, books that I rent from the library. Some will be eco-related, of course, but you’ll also find physical health, food, crafts, self-help, interior design, business, and many others subjects … much more diversity than what I get from publishers & a truer reflecti0n of my literary interests.

First up: 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea by Suzy Welch

Before you assume this is “just another self-help” book, I encourage you to drop those thoughts at the door. This is not a self-help book; it is not out to fix your life. Author Suzy Welch is very open about the fact that her 10-10-10 “life management tool” is not a solution to all your problems – it is simply meant to help you make informed, intelligent decisions that aren’t based purely on tension or emotion.

The concept is simple: phrase your problem as a specific question that you need to answer. Next, gather any information you need to answer said question. Last, and most key, is to “answer the following prompts”:

Given my question, what are the consequences of each of my options in ten minutes?

In ten months?

In ten years?

That’s it. That’s all there is to it. A simple concept to help you make decisions that not only progress your live, but make sure that you stay in-line with your own values along the way.

Suzy makes sure not to overlook how important values are, and how difficult they can be to recognized on a day-to-day schedule. In fact, there are 3 questions that she poses to help folks determine what is truly valuable in their lives:

1. What would make your cray at your 70th birthday?
2. What do I want people to say about me when I’m not in the room?
3. What do you love about the way your parents live, and what do you hate?

There are never-ending applications for the 10-10-10 concept – parenting, relationships, friendships … but the most obvious application (in my eyes) is in the career world. I have serious issues with getting off-track, taking on any paying project that comes along, whether or not it will have a positive effect on my career. Simply put, the money talks. Thankfully, I also have moral values that keep me from working on anything that I find to be offensive, pointless, or environmentally damaging.

Having worked as a writer for 4 years and not yet able to pay all my bills with my freelancing income, I wonder what I am doing wrong? What am I missing that is keeping me from being financially and emotionally successful? Think about it – I already answered my own question: money. Being broke rips my heart to shreds; I feel worthless when I can’t pay my bills. With $20,000 in foolish credit card debt keeping me under its thumb, it is easy to see why making (almost any) money unconsciously took the top spot on my priority list.

The problem with that? I begin to loose my authenticity. My words don’t speak with the same passion. My heart doesn’t beat with the same joy. At least I know that  I am doing the right thing, thanks to Suzy’s 4 questions about career that rang true for me:

1. Does my job allow me to work with “my people” – those who share my sensibilities about life – or do I have to zone out, fake it, or put on a persona to get through the day?
2. Does my job make me smarter by stretching my mind, building my skills, and taking me out of my comfort zone?
3. Does my job open doors for me?
4. Does my job give me meaning?

My positive answers to all 4 questions assures me that I am doing what is right for me, but I must seek out more opportunities to share my authentic voice with those that can benefit from it. Staying true to yourself will always, eventually, result in financial fulfillment, along with spiritual, emotional, and otherwise.

10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea by Suzy Welch was even better than I expected – I encourage everyone to read it (even those that think self-help books are for weaklings).

Enjoy! I’m off to print out a sign with “10-10-10″ on it to hang above my desk.

Each book (see the first four in the series at left) covers a general topic and offers 250 tips to making your life a bit more sustainable. Since the books are published in the UK, they do have some tips and statistics that are Euro-based and, as an American, can be a bit tough to relate to.

Despite this, I highly enjoyed each edition and the many helpful hints they contain. To boost its eco-cred, each book is printed on paper from sustainable forests. In January 2009, Carlton released two new books to The Little Green Book … series, on Nutrition and Health, that I haven’t had the pleasure of reading – but I bet they are just as great as the first four!

Keep reading for a round-up of 3 of my favorite tips from each book and a chance to win all four for your own library!

The Little Green Book of Shopping by Diane Millis

#9 :: Be Wary of Eco ‘Junk’ :: Being green is about saving the planet, not your status. Don’t fall into the trap of buying goods that are labeled as ‘eco’ or ‘fairtrade’ just because they are ‘worthy’. Whereas many of these products are perfectly legitimate, you may not actually need them and the best thing you can do for the planet is not to buy things you don’t need in the first place. Find ways of reusing what you do have or trading with someone else instead.

#27 :: Remember the Four Rs :: Few products seem to be built to last and many of us don’t know how to carry out basic repairs. Before buying, you should check whether a products is Rechargeable, Repairable, Refillable, or Reusable.

#184 :: Wash Clothing Less :: Even the most eco-friendly garment, such as an organic cotton t-shirt, can be costly in green terms due to the frequency it needs to be washed. Try to get several uses out of a garment before washing it, and sponge off small stains and marks rather than washing the entire garment.

The Little Green Book of Gardening by Diane Millis

#60 :: Use Your Old CDs :: Put those unwanted CDs to good use by hanging them over your plants or newly laid lawn to scare away the birds. String them up on a length of twine supported by bamboo canes.

#90 :: Leave the Leaves :: Use your lawn mower to mow over leaves on the lawn with the grass box off – the shredded leaves will soon disappear into the lawn. Or keep  the grass box on and add the chopped-up mown leaves and grass to a compost heap. They will rot more quickly than whole leaves.

#228 :: Eat Your Weeds :: Perhaps this will help encourage you to get on your knees and start pulling them up – some weeds make tasty additions to salads. Try eating varieties such as dandelion, purslane, and lamb’s quarters when young and tender, but don’t pick them at the roadside where they may be affected by dirt and pollution.

The Little Green Book of the Home by Sarah Callard

#63 :: Choose Powdered Detergent :: Liquid detergents generally contain a great deal more surfactant than powders and usually they also come packaged in plastic. Surfactants, commonly used in household and bodycare products, have been found to be slow to biodegrade as well as damaging to plants and animals. Both powder and liquid compacts use less detergent per wash than other forms.

#163 :: Rediscover Your Library :: We live in a consumer culture but do you really need shelves and shelves of books and DVDs that you rarely watch again? Libraries lend CDs and DVDs and are a great way to cut back on your conspicuous consumption without missing out on the latest releases.

#174 :: Buy Cheap, Buy Twice :: It makes much more sense to buy fewer, better-quality items that will last longer and perform better than to purchase a lot of cheap things. This is true for everything from clothes to kitchen appliances. Cheaper definitely isn’t always better, and can often mean that workers aren’t being paid affair amount for their labor.

The Little Green Book of Beauty by Sarah Callard

#17 :: Use Perfume Sparingly :: To cut back on chemicals, cut back on perfume. If you can’t live without your favorite scent, try to reduce the number of times you apply it. Instead of spraying it on day and night, keep it for special occasions and nights out. There are a growing number of natural and organic perfumes on the market so look out for these.

#197 :: Use Sage for Healthy Teeth :: Traditionally the herb sage has been used for dental care. It is thought to whiten the enamel of the teeth as well as strengthen the gums. The herb is often included in natural toothpastes and mouthwashes but you can make your own handmade products by mixing sage, fennel and cinnamon essential oils with water.

#234 :: Look for Shampoos with the Fewest Ingredients :: Detergents in shampoo can be problematic because they may break down into formaldehyde during storage. When formaldehyde-forming agents mix with other ingredients they can form nitrosamines, which are linked to cancer. Avoid this cocktail effect by choosing formulas containing minimal ingredients.

And now … the EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY!

What will you win? A set of the first 4 books (Shopping, Gardening, Home, + Beauty) from The Little Green Book … series!

How to Enter :: It’s easy! Just comment on this entry with your answer to this question – “Tell us the strangest eco-tip you’ve ever heard. Did you try it?”

That’s it! Make sure to include your e-mail address in the space provided or I can’t contact you if you win.

The Rules/Fine Print :: One entry per person, per e-mail address. Winner will be selected at random via Random.org.

Contest runs from today, Tuesday, April 21st til next Tuesday, April 28th.

According to her book, Live Your Life for Half the Price: Without Sacrificing the Life You Love, Mary says, “no matter your current income, you can do better with what you have without giving up the life you love.” I’m going to hold her to that! “It takes effort, it requires persistence, but it can be done.”

When I first read this book at the end of 2008, I was simply looking for basic ways to cut costs. Now that the economy is suffering and I lost my only steady writing gig, my income is more unstable than ever – I can use all the help I can get! Unlike many cost-cutting book writers out there, Mary Hunt has lived the life of massive debt, dug herself out, and lived to tell about it. In my eyes, that makes her advice more creditable - and it is some darn good advice.

She frequently reminds readers that they need to remember what they find most important. As she points out, those things rarely have anything to do with spending money or gathering debt. That doesn’t mean that we don’t all have bills that need to be paid. Thankfully, she is chock full of helpful information on car loans, mortgages, clothing, groceries, utilities, vacations, and more.

As a 24-year-old struggling to make a life for herself, I’ve read a lot of financial books. Most of them focus on paying bills off ASAP and saving money. A good strategy, I agree, but not easy for someone with a consistently limited and fluctuating budget. Enter Mary Hunt! She gets it, she knows that any age is a good time to squelch debt and make lifestyle progress – no matter your income.

In our society, time equals money – if you want to save, you have to spend time investigating your options. It is more than worth the effort, but it does involve a change of habits. Mary includes numerous helpful resources for cutting costs and finding the best deal (“never pay retail!” she often chants). The book also includes a 6-month subscription to her Debt-Proof Living newsletter and website – which has years of money-saving advice, new daily tips, and an extensive community of fellow price-cutters.

EVERY person can benefit from reading this book – financially stable or not. There is always room for improvement and Mary Hunt’s Live Your Life for Half the Price: Without Sacraficing the Life You Love will lead you in the right direction.

Thanks to a California-based company called Earthwise Kids, starting sustainable conversations with the youngsters just got easier. Proud mom and company founder Connie Trider has had the planet at the forefront of her mind from day one. “I decided to make it my mission to provide the very best gifts you can give a child in the form of healthy, earth-friendly products and educational books,” she says.

Currently offering 100% organic cotton t-shirts and a “How You Can Help?” book series, Earthwise Kids is off to a great start. Being a writer, I was naturally drawn to their award-winning educational books. Each tome focuses on a different element of the environment that needs our help: the land, wildlife, and ocean. “We took extra care in making sure that our books are printed on recycled paper and made with soy based inks,” says Trider.

Kids learn different ways to protect each of our planet’s vital resources and habitats. These tips are introduced to them via casual conversations an EarthWise kid has with a familiar animal – a polar bear (Pauli), turtle (Tippy), and cardinal (Birdie), to be specific. I can’t say that any one book is better than the other two. Growing up with countless Dr. Seuss books, I learned how to save the planet almost subliminally, but Earthwise Kids books put the truth in plain English without scaring our kids about the future they are being presented with.

And now … the EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY!

What will you win? A set of all 3 Earthwise Kids eco-friendly books, presented in a reusable and biodegradable jute gift bag!

How to Enter :: It’s easy! Just comment on this entry with your answer to this question – “How should schools teach children about sustainability?”

That’s it! Make sure to include your e-mail address in the space provided or I can’t contact you if you win.

The Rules/Fine Print :: One entry per person, per e-mail address. Winner will be selected at random via Random.org.

Contest runs from today, Tuesday, March 17th til next Tuesday, March 24th.

Simply put: times are tough.

With penny pinching the only thing that is chic these days, it is easy to forget the basic things in life that make it worth living.

Case in point: A Year of Mornings – 3191 Miles Apart by Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes

After reading countless reviews about how great this book is, I caved and finally got myself a copy. Normally, I lean towards books that are at least 80% text, but this is exactly the opposite. Here is a perfect summary of the book (thanks to its publisher, of course):

A Year of Mornings collects 236 images—always taken before 10 am without discussion between the two women—from this uniquely 21st century artistic collaboration. The intimacy of these photographs—discarded clothing, a view of a snowy day from the window, a tablecloth—combined with their striking similarities in color and composition defies the reality of their long-distance collaboration. While clearly kindred spirits, the two women have met in person only once. Their friendship is maintained solely online, sustained by a shared love for moments of serenity, solitude, and peacefulness. The annotated photographs in A Year of Mornings radiate an aura of sweetness and light—the promise of a new day.

In just the first few pages, I fell in love with photography and mornings all over again. During my high school days, you couldn’t get me out of bed before 9 or 10am (thanks to having first period open, ha). In the past 4 years, I’ve trained myself to be a morning person, mostly because my fiance is anything but. It is so easy to rush through our morning routines without taking the time to acknowledge and embrace the beauty each new day offers. For me, that is what this book is all about.

Just within the past month, Maria (a.k.a Mav) and Stephanie began posting again on the blog that started it all – 3191. I’m enchanted with the warmth and simplicity in both ladies’ photographs. The idea of starting a photography-only blog has danced around in my mind for many years. Though I now have a car payment to add to my expenses, I’ve never been more tempted to buy the new digital camera I’ve been longing for (at the very least, I am asking for it on my birthday [June 11th] this year).

Maybe it is time for me to transform Victoria-E.com into more than just an information source, but also a location for my visually artistic and inspirational-driven side.

Opinions?

Pleasantly surprising, Squeaky Green: The Method Guide to Detoxing Your Home by Method founders Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry, is an enlightening overview of the dirty corners in every room in our homes – and how to clean them without making yourself sick.

The Method book is arranged by room and is quite easy to read. Whether you read it cover-to-cover or flip right to the area in question, Squeaky Green is a priceless guide to sustainable home basics. A cute feature of the book is the “Dirty Little Secret” tips sprinkled throughout its pages – they help you “identify stuff that’s just plain nasty.”Carpets, paints, non-stick cooking pan coatings, air fresheners, plastic kids and pet toy; they all have questionable contents that any good consumer should know about.

Currently out of stock on Chronicle Books website, this is clearly a favorite amongst readers.  The website also has a great video featuring both of the book’s authors, who give you a behind-the-scenes peak at the Method offices in San Francisco and the inspiration behind Squeaky Green

One of my first introductions to the world of modern eco-living was via Method’s products at a Target store in southern Connecticut. Since then, I’ve launched a sustainable writing career that has changed my life and those around me for the better. So thank you Method – you’ll always have a place in my heart and on my bookshelf.

Delve just a bit deeper and you will find a world of of rich history, daily balance, and spiritual inspiration.

Short of taking the time to interpret ancient Sanskrit, 1,001 Pearls of Yoga Wisdom  by Liz Lark is one of the best ways to gentle introduce yourself to the depths of the yogic universe. Read cover-to-cover or opened at random for a dose of daily divinity, 1,001 Pearls of Yoga Wisdom features mantras, breathing exercises, detailed descriptions of poses, mudras, chakras,  and classic yogic teachings.

Whether a long-time practitioner or yoga newbie, you’ll find a wealth of information in this book. All of the classic terms and styles are explained in plain English. Chunky and easily portable, you can skip to an applicable section via the Contents pages (#4-5) or simply open the book and read the first passage you see – both ways will a simple and graphically beautiful view into the wide world of yoga.

Choosing my favorite “pearls” of wisdom was no easy feat – and to tell you the truth, they are all fantastic! Below are a few quotes, practices, and lessons from 1,001 Pearls of Yoga Wisdom that help make my current days a bit brighter:

•  11: Simply Stretch: Yoga teaches that since the earth moves constantly, so too should your body’s energy – even when lying in bed in the morning. As soon as you wake, stretch your limbs like a starfish to get the energy flowing for the day ahead.
• 48: Open Up and Wait: “Be as a cup, and the universe flows into you. Be as an arrow, and the universe retreats from you.” – Zen Proverb
• 109: Flow Visualization: If stress drains you of the energy required to maintain equanimity, close your eyes and visualize the power of a rushing waterfall. Let its incessant flow replenish your resources and drum out tension. Whenever you have the opportunity, sit by a real waterfall, inhaling its stress-relieving negative ions.
• 250: Tree Pose (Vrikasana): Virksa means tree in Sanskirt, and in this pose you emulate the steady balance and vertical focus of a tree, firmly rooted in the earth yet growing towards the sun.
• 334: Strength of Heart: “The only demons in this world are those running around in our own hearts, and that is where all our battles ought to be fought.” – Mahatma Ghandi (1869-1948), India
• 443: Just Connect: Smile at passers-by and say hello to the people you interact with in daily life. Small acts of compassion are yogic at their core and make the world a better place to live in.
• 567: The Web of Life: “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.” – Herman Melville (1819-1891), USA
• 624: Finding the Light: During “dark” periods, your asana and meditation practice offer you not only safe, quiet time out but also the opportunity to explore your thoughts and process your emotions. Yogis believe that taking time out in this way allows you to emerge into the light as a more complete person.
• 703: Down and Up: “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius (551-479 BCE), China
• 847: Turning Over Stones: As you practice yoga, you’re likely to encounter not only physical challenges but emotional ones, too.To overcome these obstacles, you’ve got to be willing to face them, whether they’re in the form of physical tightness in certain areas, mental resistance to the idea of certain “difficult” poses, self-critical tendencies or extreme emotions.
• 1001: A Final Word: “By practicing Yoga, impurities dwindle away and the light of wisdom dawns.” – Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (300-200 BCE), India)

My parents separated when I was 9, after 14 years of marriage and 2 kids. Trying to describe what it felt like for a young kid is immensely difficult, but I had no idea what my mom was going through … until now.

In The Heartbreak Diet: A Story of Family, Fidelity, and Starting Over, San Francisco illustrator and author Thorina Rose shares her complex, emotional divorce experience with readers and cartoon lovers alike.

This isn’t your average “a difficult event helped me find myself” kind of novel – it’s a graphic novel. Thorina embraces her natural gift and presents her story with vivid black-and-white visuals and words. Though you can read the book in less than an hour, it is a fantastic treat that will absorb anyone who browses your bookshelf.

During a recent visit in November 2008, my mom read the book and found it to be a beautifully accurate portrayal of the divorce process – both good and bad. Having already read The Heartbreak Diet, I suddenly felt more connected to her than ever before.

Admittedly, when I first read the book, it wasn’t was I was expecting at all.  Just from the title, I was honestly expecting a quirky diet book – boy, was I surprised! That’s what I get for judging a book by its cover; go figure. After such an engrossing and graphically-stunning tale, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Thorina writes another book soon!

Most folks know about the usual herbs – parsley, basil, pepper, rosemary – from buying the dried versions at their grocery store. If you want to truly experience food at its finest (without a huge cost), grow your own herbs. Even apartment dwellers have enough space to cultivate anywhere from 3 to 10 herbs at a time. But what do you grow? and how? When do you use them? and in what?

Finally, there is a guide for all those questions – The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs. The idea of having a one-stop-shop for information on growing, cooking, and baking with herbs caught my attention immediately. In addition to all that, The Herb Society of America’s guide offers a unique glimpse at the history of herbal plants and trees, along with some of their past uses.

Most people think of herbs as something you just add in towards the end of a recipe – you know, an accent. Not so! No matter what you are cooking or baking, herbs are a vital element to bringing out the true flavors of all foods. By growing them in your own kitchen (or bedroom or living room), you not only get the ability to use fresh herbs, but you also foster that priceless connection between man and nature. A little dirt is good for you.

Of course, one of my favorite sections of the The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs is the recipe section. It is much bigger than I expected and I could cook for months on end from this book alone. Everything from soups, salads, breads, and beverages to sauces, entrees, side dishes, and desserts … especially desserts (I have quite the dangerous sweet tooth). The first on my list to try are the Mint Chocolate Pound Cake (page 215) and the Lemon Basil Tea Bread (page 219). I would not be arrogant in saying that every cook’s bookshelf needs this guide.

Growing up in a family that didn’t have time for anything that didn’t come in a box, visiting my grandmother’s house was a haven because her spice rack was almost as big as her sink. The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs brings back many of those happy memories and gives me a chance to start creating some unique memories of my own.

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Don’t forget to visit my new ECO-INDIE WEDDING BLOG!

Thankfully, I’ve found a love that makes me feel safe and inspired – truly marriage material. He hasn’t proposed yet, but we have talked a lot about it and we both know it is on the horizon. Being the immense eco-geek that I am, imaging me glee when I heard that The Green Bride Guide: How to Create an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget was just about to hit bookshelves!

If you are looking for an image-heavy, visually-focused book, then The Green Bride Guide isn’t for you. However, if you want loads of helpful information, creative suggestions, and sustainable options for every budget, then this is your eco-wedding bible! I can only imagine how long it took author Kate L. Harrison to gather all of the info for this book, but we are all deeply indebted to her.

Being on the cusp of preparing for my own earth-friendly wedding (within the next 5 years), this book will have a special place in my library. Though every ounce of info is priceless, my favorite chapters include: Rules of Engagement (which will be vital hear soon, I bet),  Here Comes the Eco-Chic Bride (I am a fashion-geek as well), Going Green – Transportation and Guest Comfort, Gastronomically Green – Food and Drink, and Giving and Receiving Green.

Another immensely helpful aspect of the book are the detailed questionnaire worksheets in the Appendix, used to quiz everyone from the florist to the jeweler about their sustainable practices and supplies. Speaking of useful resources, there are a number of references to the book’s companion website, TheGreenBrideGuide.com, as well. You’ll find a constantly updated list of links to company websites, other useful books, and – most importantly – photos and commentary from couples who threw their own eco-friendly weddings.

The Green Bride Guide: How to Create an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget is nothing short of a goldmine of information for any couple. Needless to say, you can expect more wedding-related posts here on Victoria-E.com in the next year as I paw through the countless brands and ideas available in this book (and trapped in my creative mind). Until then, make sure to get your hands on a copy of The Green Bride Guide: How to Create an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget; Kate did a fantastic job writing it and deserves mammoth amounts of attention and thanks.

Of course, we must keep in mind that it is the holidays and most folks schedules are crazy busy during this time, so that might explain it. (still a bummer though)

Now …

the time has come …

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!

ra-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat

The winner of the Green Christmas WIN YOUR OWN COPY Book Giveaway is …

(as picked by Random.org) …

Pam Foltz!

Pam, I’ve sent you an e-mail (to get your mailing address) so I can send you your very own copy of Green Christmas: How to Have a Joyous, Eco-Friendly Holiday Season.

Didn’t win? Don’t frown – there are many more contests, eco-discounts, and useful reviews coming your way on Victoria-E.com, so stay tuned!

[Image: Winner badge made by a minor thread]

Visit last Thurday’s post for a hearty review and details on HOW TO ENTER (it’s really easy!).

Can you have a sane, eco-holiday? Of course! Authors Jennifer Basye Sander, Peter Sander, and Anne Basye had the foresight to write Green Christmas: How to Have a Joyous, Eco-Friendly Holiday Season for this exact purpose. Any questions you have about holiday entertaining, travel, gifts, decorating, and waste are answered in intelligent, easy-to-understand detail.

Green Christmas offers some very sobering details about our holidays’ impact on the environment:

• Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Americans produce an extra 2 billion pounds of garbage per week. (Imaging that on a world-wide scale!)
• Every Christmas season, enough holiday cards are sold to fill a 1o-story football stadium.
• If every child under the age of 6 received a quality wood toy instead of a plastic one, we’d avoid 17 million tons of plastic landfill.

Getting the whole family involved and focusing on what particularly about the holidays makes you happy (I bet it isn’t spending hours trapped in shopping mall crowds.) are key to enjoy a sustainable holiday. By simply consuming less and enjoying the company of others more, you will be on your way to the greenest holiday season ever.

According to Green Christmas, enjoying the holidays sustainably doesn’t mean you will be sacrificing any joy or merriment. In fact, 75-90% of people report that they feel stressed and depressed during the holidays. Instead of focusing on enormous credit card bills or silly family feuds, you can create new and positive experiences by cooking together and enjoying the outdoors.

The holidays will never be the same again, thanks to Green Christmas. Create a warm, low-pollution fire; find (or make) sustainable, affordable gifts; choose an eco-friendly tree; feed family and friends without going broke (or hungry) – you learn how to do all this and more, thanks to Green Christmas: How to Have a Joyous, Eco-Friendly Holiday Season. Give it a read and you’ll soon be saying, “HO HO ECO!”

Want to try and WIN YOUR OWN FREE COPY of  Green Christmas: How to Have a Joyous, Eco-Friendly Holiday Season? Here’s how!

How to Enter :: It’s easy! Just comment on this entry with your answer to this question – “What excuse(s) do you friends and family use for not ‘going green’?”

That’s it! Make sure to include your e-mail address in the space provided or I can’t contact you if you win.

The Rules/Fine Print :: One entry per person, per e-mail address. Winner will be selected at random via Random.org.

Contest runs from today – Thurs, November 20th – to Thurs, December 4th (working around the American holiday of Thanksgiving).

Not only did I learn about the widely untested yet ubiquitous chemicals we encounter daily, I also learned about the utter impotence of the United States government to take a concern for its citizens – something that won’t come as a surprise to most of you.

Mark Schaprio, author of Exposed, is Editorial Director at San Francisco-based Center for Investigative Reporting. Having written extensively about foreign affairs, his first book is a perfect mix of environmental concern and political actions (or inaction, as it were in the U.S.).

“The European Union is asserting new priorities that are far more protective of citizens’ health and the environment than those in the United States and they have the economic muscle to back it up,” writes Mark in the book’s first chapter. “The EU has been demanding that its industry take responsibility for the collateral health damages caused by its products, and it has done so with innovations that are leading the world.”

Covering the questionable chemicals found in beauty products, sex toys, home furniture and more, Exposed not only explains how those unstable ingredients became commonplace, but also what countries are taking action against them (hint: it’s not the U.S.). There is a clear difference between the U.S. and EU views on consumer safety – it is a matter of innocent until proven guilty versus guilty until proven innocent.

I’ve never been an overtly political person, but after reading Exposed, I have become considerably more proactive in upholding the concept that it is the government’s job to help protect the personal safety of all its citizens. “American citizens are being put in a position that would have been unimaginable a decade ago; in some instances a dumping ground for goods not wanted elsewhere in the world, in other instances the accidental beneficiaries of protective standards created by another government over which they have no influence,” says Mark in the book’s final chapter. “The United States is no longer where it likes to imagine itself to be, at the center of a universe around which the rest of the world resolves.”

The United States is not the center of the universe - what a concept! It is about time that the U.S. government realized it is being surpassed and the entire country is suffering. Exposed is one of the best books that I have read in many years – I recommend it to anyone and everyone, whether politically/environmentally inclined or not. This is an intelligent, eye-opening, crowd-rustling book that should be required in schools.

For those that will be at the San Francisco Green Festival next month (I’ll be there), Exposed author Mark Shapiro will be speaking at 4pm on November 15th.

The longer you practice yoga, the more it begins to positively influence the rest of your life. Having practiced for nearly 3 years, I was amazed when my yoga practice further fueled my passion for developing more sustainable lifestyles.

It turns out my eco-inspiration wasn’t too far off-base, according to Green Yoga by Georg & Brenda Feuerstein. Specifically outlining yoga’s teachings as a call to sustainable living, Green Yoga is not for the faint of heart.

Unaware of just how dire our environmental situation is? Green Yoga will set you straight in a frank away – that’s means no sugar-coating the truth. For some, it may catch them off guard, but I found it refreshingly blunt. The book covers the timely issues of all our major life systems – land, water, air – along with the overall concept of Mother Earth. The tome ends with a specific and extensive list of “practical things you can do to make a significant difference.”

“We realize that some of our readers – those who did not read our book carefully or ponder its evidence in an unbiased way – might deem our message too radical. We think, however, that our message is commensurate with the weight of the evidence,” say Green Yoga’s authors in the book’s epilogue.

I highlighted countless other passage throughout the book – far too many to post here. That is solid proof this book can educate even the most informed eco-advocate. Green Yoga is a book that I am elated to see is on the market – it is aimed at yet another popular activity that, with a bit of effort, can become a vital part of creating a sustainable future for everyone.

For more information about sustainable spirituality, check out Georg & Brenda’s free PDF book, Green Dharma.

How do you navigate the world of farmer’s markets, food blogs and charitable organizations? Save a copy of Eat Well Guide’s new Cultivating the Web e-book and you’ll be all set! Featuring intelligent essays by noted moved and shakers in the sustainable food movement, Cultivating the Web includes lists of eco-food focused blogs, networks websites, consumers resources and more.

Not only meant as a resource, Cultivating the Web is also meant as an inspiration on how and where to get your own voice out about sustainable food. I recently chatted with Cultivating the Web’s editor and project manager, Leslie Hatfield about this one-of-a-kind guide. A freelancer hired to edit Eat Well Guide’s Green Fork blog, Leslie took on the Cultivating the Web project over the summer and was able to complete the entire guide in time for the groundbreaking Slow Food Nation event – oh, and did I mention the guide is FREE!?

Read on for my interview with Leslie, which includes insights on the value of Cultivating the Web, the significance of the Slow Food Nation event, how sustainable food concerns fit in with the overall eco-movement and more!

Victoria Everman: How did the idea for this project begin?

Leslie Hatfield: I guess it just sprang up organically — because Eat Well is a web-based program, we wanted to present what we know best — promoting good food through new media.  After that, the ideas for what to include kept coming and it pretty quickly became a question of what all we could fit in.

What is your goal for the Cultivating the Web book?

Our primary goal is to help farmers and others who produce good food to self-market and thrive.  Likewise for sustainable food advocates, and on the other side, to make it as easy as possible for people to find those producers and advocates.  We basically wanted to build and maintain a living resource that is helpful for people all along the spectrum of food production.

This is kind of what the Eat Well Guide is all about — helping people to find good food and leveling the playing field between Big Food and small producers.  Farmers and local restaurateurs can’t compete with agribusiness in terms of traditional advertising, and that’s what makes the internet such a great medium for consumers to get informed about food choices, and for local businesses to gain visibility.  But the internet is also vast and kind of confusing, so it helps to have a compilation of some of the best stuff out there.  That said, we surely missed some things, and that’s where keeping it online comes in — we can update it as we learn more, and keep sharing the information.  We hope that a lot of people will send us links to add, so that we can keep it as comprehensive as possible.

Did the project start out with the goal of being a free document, or did that come later?

Eat Well is a nonprofit program, so it never really crossed our mind to charge money for it.  If somebody felt moved to pay for it, we’d encourage them to donate to any of the food organizations listed in our book, or to their local food bank.

What useful resources can average consumers find in the book?

The resource section is something we’re particularly proud of, and we intend to keep adding to it in the digital version.  We list some amazing sites, like Seafood Watch, which tells you which seafood are healthful as well as sustainable.  People who want to learn more about food issues will also find a ton of great resources, like Food & Water Watch and Sustainable Table and the Organic Consumers Association.

They’ll also find information on our new mapping feature, Eat Well Everywhere, the beta version of which just went live last week, which enables users to map their way to good food, anywhere in North America.

Was the release of the book intentionally close to the Slow Food Nation event?

Yes.  We were definitely inspired by Slow Food Nation — it’s the first event of its kind in the US, and we’re thrilled to see so many people come together not only to celebrate good food, but to talk about how to fix our broken food system and better support small-scale food production.  So we wanted to debut the print copies there, but also to create something that would live on long after the event was over.

Do you feel that the Cultivating the Web book fills a gaping void?

I do think that new media is changing so fast that it’s hard to keep up even if you work in it.  Likewise, we are learning more all the time about the ecological impact of our food choices, and sustainable alternatives to so-called “conventional” agricultural methods, so our book is helpful in that it gives people one tool to navigate those landscapes.

And I think Cultivating the Web is one of the first documents of its kind — I’ve never seen anything quite like it — both in terms of putting all those resources and case studies out there for everyone, and also in keeping it alive on the site.

What do you see as the most important factor in the sustainable food movement right now?

While we’ve seen a lot of movement in both new and traditional media (there seems to be a good-food story in the NY Times every day, which I like to think means we are winning), the most important factor in the movement will always be the food and the people who produce it.  Without the local food producers who’ve managed to stay in business (or been brave enough to start up), we wouldn’t be having this conversation.  Of course they need people to feed, too, so the consumers and the media and the advocates and scholars all play important roles too, but again, without the food and farmers, we’d be nowhere, not just as a movement, but as a species.

And the food — once you’ve had really wonderful food (and I don’t necessarily mean fancy food — most of my favorites are really simple, like kale braised with garlic and a little vinegar) eating sustainably seems more like a blessing than a sacrifice.

That said, the vast number of sustainable food advocates, from the activists to the bloggers to the organic farmers, and their voices, whether in person or on the web, are doing amazing work, and they are able to do so in part because the internet is still our most democratic medium.  So we owe a bit to the internet, and need to keep our eyes on net neutrality.

How do you see today’s food concerns as part of the expanding realm of environmental consciousness? (Small part, big part … etc.)

It’s huge. You can’t have a very comprehensive conversation about ecology without touching on food.  Industrial agriculture is harmful at every stage of production, from the application of petroleum-based pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer to the packaging and distribution.  And everyone eats, so unlike some other, more expendable industries, food’s not going anywhere.  It’s been heartening to see so many environmentalists take on food issues over the last few years.  There is still a lot of work to be done, but the important thing to remember is that we’re all in this together.

The eco-answer has arrived with Good Bug, Bad Bug by Jessica Walliser. Printed on water-proofed, laminated pages and wire-bound, Good Bug, Bad Bug is written in easy to understand language. You can quickly identify invasive and beneficial insects. Walliser provides expert organic advice on how to attract the good guys and manage the bad guys without toxic chemicals.

From container gardens to acre-sized plots, Good Bug, Bad Bug is the perfect reference guide for every grower. Thanks to climate change, pests are invading regions they aren’t native to. That means more destruction and increased confusion. Walliser’s approach is simple and green: get rid of the bad ones and encourage the good ones to stick around. Color pictures, an informative introduction, glossary, and product directory round of the books’ awesome qualities.

Haven’t started planting yet? Don’t fret – it is never too late! Check out my review of Walliser’s other book, Grow Organic, for sustainable growing methods from seed to table.

Time to Grow Organic! A new book by Pittsburg greenies Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. Not only about gardening, Grow Organic helps with flowers, lawns and more. For “first-timers and old-timers alike,” those without a naturally green thumb are saved. Color pictures, graphs, step-by-step instructions – it’s all here.

Live in the city?  Grow Organic’s info applies to your small space too. Don’t let a lack of “real” land stop you grow the joy of truly fresh food and flowers. Container gardens are even easier to maintain than lawn spaces, so grab a trowel and get growing!

My favorite section of Grow Organic is chapter 6 – all about veggies!  When I have a house, I’ll grow fruit trees too. Until then, its spinach, herbs, and other edibles. My apartment building’s fire escape offers enough extra space to cultivate more than expected.

Space? Time? Skill? You don’t need any of these to grow! It’s a simple, quick and space-conscious hobby. Grab a copy of Grow Organic by Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. You’ll see what I mean in no time. Well, it may take a few weeks for the seeds to sprout. Then, you’ll see.

Check out The Organic Gardeners for info about Doug Oster, Jessica Walliser, and their weekly gardening radio show.

My favorite source for seeds: Seeds of Change (organic and heirloom) and Seed Savers Exchange (heirloom).

Now living with her husband and son in Brooklyn, Lotta lived in San Francisco for many years and seemed delighted to be back in the “City by the Bay.” With stencils, linoleum blocks, and potatoes stamps featuring designs from her new book, Lotta showed nearly 50 people how to add personality to plain textiles. I’ve never seen so many people crammed into the Craft Gym before, proving just how much Lotta is still loved on the West Coast.

I personally didn’t have a chance to give any of the printing a shot, but just by watching and listening to Lotta’s techniques, I gained valuable knowledge for an upcoming home decorating project. Of course, a few folks from Chronicle Books were on-hand to sell copies of Lotta Prints. The book is a bit different from Lotta’s well-known Simple Sewing. Instead of featuring expansive step-by-step instructions for specific projects and detailed patterns, readers are given the basics of each printing method, a few stencils and encouraged to play around.

As a person who has always been interested in printmaking, this book is a joy! Drawings, scrap prints, finished projects and photographs taken by Lotta herself accompany the book’s instructions, showing the reader that inspiration can come from anywhere. Whether you are looking to achieve something similar to Lotta’s signature style or hoping to develop a style of your own, Lotta Prints is the book for you. I’ll be using my copy as a reference for both printing instructions and stimulating visuals – as they say, “the sky’s the limit.”

If you live near New York City, make sure to check out the East Coast printing party that Lotta is holding at her studio in Brooklyn this Friday. Below are more pictures that I took at the San Francisco event this past Saturday; enjoy!

Lining up for the excitement!

Chic sandals, worn by Lotta Jansdotter herself.

Learning from the master.

Copies of the evening’s inspiration.

A packed house, only an hour into the event.

“From old cell phones and E-waste to expired medicines and motor oil this little guide shows you where you can send your unwanted items and how you might make a bit of money while you’re at it,” says Chelsea Publishing’s website. Along with an A-to-Z guide on ways to reduce, reuse and recycle every item in the average home or office, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle also features short chapters on how to furthur incorporate the first two R’s (reduce and reuse) instead of depending on being able to recycle all you buy.

One key element of reusing is composting, which is featured in detail in Chelsea Green Guide: Composting, also by by Nicky Scott. Some cities, like my current home San Francisco, accepts items for weekly composting in a green bin. Unfortunately, this process is not as popular in many other locations, so starting your own compost bin is likely on the agenda. Most people avoid starting or using a compost bin because they think it will … well … stink! There is a key to composting, which is often called “getting the mix right” – that means having the right mix of nitrogen-heavy (soft/wet) and carbon-heavy (dry/absorbent) items in the bin, along with how they are layered.

The Composting book gives all the details on which bin to pick (or build your own, if you have the space), how to get “the mix” right, advantages of worms, many uses for “finished” compost and more. Most importantly, the book also has an A-to-Z guide of what you should and shouldn’t put in your compost bin (food scraps – yes; glass – no). If you find your own composting efforts worthwhile, there is even a chapter on how to get your community (or at least nearby neighbors) involved.

For anyone, anywhere looking to “go green”, these two books are must-haves. I’ll be paying closer attention to my additions to the apartment building’s blue bins. In addition, I’ll be more careful about what I buy in order to both reDUCE and reCYCLE. How about you?

NOTE: Make sure to check out my previous Chelsea Green Guides review!

These are just two of the many intelligent facts, along with simple and effective tips, featured in the Chelsea Green Guides book series. I’ve gotten the pleasure of receiving four of the six guides in the mail and will be reviewed two of them in this post (the next two in another post).

First up is the Water volume from Chelsea Green Guides. Written by Jon Cliff (environmental consultant with Masters degree in Sustainable Environmental Management) and Amanda Cuthbert (freelance writer and marketing consultant), this 78-page book is a handy reference meant for every bookshelf. Along with staggering water usage facts, there are 100 short and simple ways to conserve water all over the house (backyard, garden and car washing included).

Second on the review block (you know, like the chopping block only healthier?) is the Energy volume from Chelsea Green Guides. Also written by duo Jon Cliff and Amanda Cuthbert, this guide also includes 100 conversation tips in a wide variety of areas. From lighting and cooking to renewable energy and gadgets, energy options are abound and covered in basic detail throughout the book.

Water and Energy are great introductory guides to the world of green living. “Going green” can seem so overwhelming at first, but these two books can be considered more “bare bones” – helping any reader to transition into a more sustainable lifestyle without sacrificing basic comforts. Though I haven’t had the pleasure of reading it, Jon Cliff and Amanda Cuthbert have another book in the Chelsea Green Guides series called Greening Your Office. I have a feeling it is just as enjoyable as these two volumes are and encourage you to check them all out.

Of course, being a sustainable publishing company, Chelsea Green has taken extra steps to make sure that their books are printed with high environmental standards. For the particular printing of these two books, Silva Enviro100 paper (100% post-consumer recycled content, processed chlorine-free) was used, helping to save thousands of pounds of solid waste and tens of thousands of gallons of water.

Stay tuned/subscribed to Victoria-E.com for more Chelsea Green Guide reviews, along with a slew of other books!

Establishing an effective and long-term plan for government sanctioned carbon reduction is the main subject of Peter Barnes’ book, Climate Solutions: A Citizen’s Guide – What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why. Released at the beginning of 2008, Climate Solutions is a quick 93-page read (I finished it in a few hours). No punches are pulled as Barnes gives us the straight facts about the current state of our environment and the carbon reduction plans major corporations are rooting for. “This citizen’s guide demystifies climate policy so that you can play an active role in forming it. We can’t wait any longer, and we can’t get it wrong,” says Bill McKibben in the book’s forward.

“On the surface, global warming appears to be an environmental problem. But deeper down, it’s a result of two economic and political failures,” says Barnes in the first chapter. Four different government tools are discussed in detail: taxes, caps, regulations and investments. After over 30 years in the green energy business, Barnes gets right to the point on each method’s benefits and drawbacks. “In the end, we’ll need a mix [of all four tools], but before we make our brew we need to know the virtues and flaws of each,” says Barnes.

After the overview, Barnes jumps headlong into an explanation of why a carbon cap-and-dividend plan is the best bet for the planet and its inhabitants. “From a political perspective, a carbon cap with monthly dividends would be the most popular federal program since Social Security,” says Barnes. Just like the other three tools, carbon capping can easily be corrupted, just as it was in Europe. Unfortunately, all of the plans currently in the House and Senate are set to repeat those same European mistakes. Now is the time for us citizens to make our voices heard before the business of carbon reduction is over before it starts.

“We need to limit and pay for atmospheric pollution, and we need to shift subsidies from dirty fuels to clean ones. If we don’t do both of those things, we won’t stop climate change.” Whether you live in the United States or not, Climate Solutions: A Citizen’s Guide – What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why is a valuable no-bullshit guide on making government regulations a successful method for reducing carbon pollution. As a registered voter, I feel much more informed after reading this book and plan to make the move to supporting a carbon cap-and-dividend plan with much more fervor.

If you are like me and have been ‘betrayed’ by computers a few times in your life, you’ll be interested in The Green Journal, compiled by Pittsburg’s infamous Phipps Conservatory and Garden Center. Filled with mini-essays and helpful reminders on eco-projects of all sizes, The Green Journal also has ample room for you to “enter your own discoveries and epiphanies as they unfold, marking where you’ve been and where you still want to go.”

Feel a bit strange about keeping track of your sustainable changes in a paper journal? Don’t fret – publisher St. Lynn’s Press printed the hardbound “book” on recycled paper with soy-based inks. Thanks to The Green Journal, you won’t have to sacrifice your eco-intentions to your busy schedule – keep track of it easily and soon, everyone will be calling you ‘Emerald.’