After the premiere of the Fashion episode from Big Ideas for A Small Planet’s second season, there was one other episode that I really wanted to see - Grow. Having gone from the farmland of rural Indiana to the urban concrete of San Francisco, my appreciation for every square foot of green space has skyrocketed over the years.

Just what inside perspectives could the Sundance folks give on taking seedlings to the next level? From the Sundance Channel’s website: This episode looks at new green spaces in cities and suburbs. As urban populations swell, creative environmentalists are scouting surprising spots for vegetation amidst the cement. Elsewhere, suburbanites are introducing environmental consciousness to their lawns and gardens.

Unlike the Fashion episode from BIFASP’s first season, I did not see the Grow episode the first time around. I’m not able to compare which Grow episode is “better”, but I can say that season two’s coverage on the aspects and importance of growing plants is engaging. Premiering next Tuesday, May 20th at 9pm EST and PST, the 25-minute installment focuses on three topics: green roofs, xeriscaping and instant parks. Features within these segments is Jorg Breuning, Founder of Green Roof Service LLC; Marjora Carter, Executive Director of Sustainable South Bronx; Vynnie McDaniels, Xeriscape Garden Consultant; Andy Lipkis, Founder of Tree People and the infamous Dr. David Sukuzi, Geneticist & Author.

The overarching concept of the episode is encapsulated in two simple sentences at the beginning: Plants nourish the air and filter our water, yet green spaces are endangered all over the planet. Can be imagine growing a greener world? (more…)

With all the excitement of bringing your own bags to the grocery story, buying organic cotton clothing and carrying your own water bottle, it is easy to forget that the United States government does not have a plan in place for dealing with the main cause of climate change: carbon. After all the efforts we continue to put for in order to make out personal lives more green, how do we get companies to follow suit?

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.

(more…)

Life is a journey, so why not make it a sustainable one? From blogs and forums to magazines, newspapers and cable TV -tips and tricks on how to live green come at us from every possible angle these days. While it is a refreshing change from McDonald’s ads and fake diet claims, all the info can still be quite overwhelming. How do you keep track of it all?

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.’

While you are out doing grocery shopping this weekend, make sure to stop by a Whole Foods Market and pick up an exclusive FEED 100 reusable bag. Why? Retailing for $29.99 and made from 100% organic cotton, the FEED 100 bag folds into its own base - a zippered burlap pouch. While stylish and sustainable, the FEED 100 bag has even more perks: each purchased bag “will provide 100 nutritious school meals for hungry children through the UN World Food Program (WFP).”

“This bold and innovative partnership between FEED Projects and Whole Foods Market will make a real difference,” said Josette Sheeran, executive director of the United Nations World Food Program. “Hundreds of thousands of Rwandan children, who might have gone to school hungry, will now go nourished and ready to learn.”

Debuting yesterday, May 1st, at Whole Foods Markets across the country, the bag was designed by Lauren Bush, fashion model and niece of current President George W. Bush. Fan of fair trade? “The bags are not only made from eco-minded materials they are being crafted in one of the world’s few certified facilities ensuring fair treatment of workers, livable wages, paid overtimes, safe and clean working environments, benefits and vacation time,” according to press information.

“Creating the FEED 100 bag was inspired by the need to take better care of children and the planet at the same time,” said Lauren Bush, co-founder and CEO of FEED Projects. “Whole Foods Market and its savvy customers’ commitment to caring for the planet by choosing reusable shopping bags, make Whole Foods Market the perfect place to introduce the new FEED 100 bag, which will enable WFP to provide millions of school meals to the children of Rwanda.”

Before bamboo, soy and coconut fibers, there was organic cotton. Arguably the most popular sustainable fabric available, organic cotton is grown without pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers, all of which are used on conventional cotton crops. Organic cotton is used in T-shirts, diapers, sheets and more. But is it truly the better choice?

Critics of organic cotton rant about water resources needed to grow it, chemical dyes and the significant carbon footprint created to ship it. Proponents of organic cotton remind us of its reduced or nonexistent chemical usage and the smaller farms where it’s typically grown, and of the GMO (genetically modified organisms) seeds used to grow conventional cotton. We delve into the fact and fiction about organic cotton to give you an honest look at how sustainable this fiber really is.

1. Chemicals

Considered one of the most chemically dependent crops in the world, conventional cotton uses 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals and 25 percent of the world’s insecticides—in the U.S., one-third of a pound of chemicals are needed just to grow enough conventional cotton for a regular T-shirt. “Organic cotton is a solution to the problem of chemical use in conventional cotton,” says Lynda Grose of the Sustainable Cotton Project. Additionally, Grose says growing organic cotton is a great transition crop to convert chemical-intensive fields to a future organic farm, whether it’s for growing food or fabrics. “The ecological goal is to convert fields from chemical controls to biological controls.”

Organic cotton crops are kept healthy with a number of natural methods that help control weeds and pests. According to the Organic Consumers Association’s Clothes for a Change program, these methods include mechanical or hand-weeding, crop rotation, planting several crops together (intercropping), use of mulches, adjusting planting dates and densities of crops, and introducing beneficial predator insects.

[[ KEEP READING! THE FULL ARTICLE IS AT LIFE.GAIAM.COM]]

[Image courtesy of chadmill on flickr.com]

Weekly recycling, home composting, grocery shopping at the farmer’s market – you’ve made some good changes to live greener. So what’s next? It’s time to take your eco-friendly inspirations out into your local community to inspire and support others in lightening their footprint, too.

Making a difference doesn’t have to involve a boatload of time or money, either. These five ideas make a big difference for the environment — and they’re among the most likely to succeed in any type of neighborhood. Start simple, start small, start making your community a better place to be.

1) Organize a Walk-to-School Group

According to Mother Earth News, almost a third of the air pollution in the United States comes from passenger vehicles. “More than 12.5 million children and adolescents 2 to 19 years of age are overweight,” says U.S. Surgeon General Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson, M.D. It may seem like a lofty goal, but addressing two issues (automotive pollution and childhood obesity) with one solution is easier than it sounds.

Organizing a walk-to-school program within your neighborhood or entire school is as easy as getting the word out. Talk to your neighbors about getting together at a certain time each morning to walk your kids to school. If you want to go bigger, talk to the school’s principal or ask to take the idea citywide at the next town meeting (see #5). You and your children get some much-needed exercise — plus you’ll be reducing harmful vehicle emissions.

Resources:

+ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Kids Walk-to-School program (includes Power Point presentation and extensive resources)
+ National Center for Safe Routes to School

2) Create a Monthly Swap Get-Together

Any season is a good time for spring cleaning, but what to do with that collection of unwanted stuff? Swap it! Arrange a once-a-month get-together with your friends and neighbors to exchange anything you’re ready to part with.

[[ KEEP READING! THE FULL ARTICLE IS AT LIFE.GAIAM.COM]]

[Image courtesy of ikhlasulamal on flickr.com]

You’ve established a healthy workout schedule, working up a sweat three to five times a week—but why aren’t you losing weight? Depending on how much weight you have been trying to lose, you may have hit your fitness plateau.

The solution isn’t necessarily longer workouts. We consulted two of our favorite fitness professionals to find out their favorite strategies for kicking up your workout. The best part? Their methods won’t make you add more sweat sessions!

1. Vie for Variety

If you’ve been doing the same moves for months on end, your body is probably bored. “Each time you perform an activity, your body gets efficient at that activity and it remembers the movement and gets better at doing it. This in turn allows the body to go on autopilot, which decreases the number of calories burned,” says Patricia Moreno, a fitness professional for more than 20 years and the founder of intenSati™ fusion exercise techniques.

Adding variety can be as simple as doing your usual workout in reverse order or picking out a few new moves from a fitness magazine. When working on your cardio, vary the incline and don’t hold onto the handles—your glutes will work harder than ever. “If you love to go fast, slow it down and add some resistance. If you love to go slow, increase the speed and lower the resistance,” Moreno advises.

Feeling adventurous? Try a new exercise class! Curious about yoga? Longing for the days of ’80s step-aerobics classes? Replace one of your usual workouts with a class you’ve wanted to try or one you wouldn’t normally take.

2. The Joy of Jump Ropes

Not only will adding jump-rope intervals to your workout shock your body into burning more calories, it may shorten the time you spend sweating. Jumping rope between lifting weights “creates an interval workout with bursts of energy, and you will burn many more calories,” says Tanja Djelevic, Los Angeles celebrity trainer, fitness writer and founder of Loud Teenz health and self-esteem program.

[[ KEEP READING! THE FULL ARTICLE IS AT LIFE.GAIAM.COM]]

[Image courtesy of mikebaird on flickr.com]

March 24th — Eggstacular! by Kelly Rand: “Half eaten boxes of marshmallow Peeps; straw from Easter baskets strewn about; slowly coming out of a sugar high; plastic egg halves littering the floor. Does this sound like you and the aftermath of Easter? Feeling a little unsure of what to do with those plastic eggs now that the hunt is over and …”

March 24th — Recycled Plastic: Artist Call for Submissions. by Juliet Ames: “Lark Books is a fantastic publishing company that brought us all kinds of art and craft books including the addictive “500 Series.” Every year they publish 60-70 new titles and invite artists to submit work to be included in future books. They now have a wonderful …”

March 24th — Plastic Egg: It’s Not What’s for Dinner by Autumn Wiggins: “In keeping with this week’s theme of what to do with those pesky plastic eggs, I set out to find a worthy project. My enthusiasm was curbed when I came across reports of lead being found in these things. At the risk of being the antagonist, telling you what not to do with …”

March 25th — Wanna Be On TV? Casting For a New Teen Craft Show by Victoria Everman: “Crafter extraordinaire and co-host of DIY Network’s Creative Juice TV show - Cathie Filian - also has her own production company. With her fellow executive producers Greg Byers and Steve Piacenza, Cathie is on the hunt for teen/young adult crafters to …”

March 25th — Pizza Box + Plastic Easter Eggs = ? by Skye Kilaen (more…)

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea tat to live a greener, healthier life, you have to completely reinvent your ways. But more often than not, lasting change comes by making things simpler, not harder. Instead of thinking about all you should do, try a gentler approach - one that goes back to basics. Reusable shopping bags. Manual can openers. A walk to the corner store. Handmade gifts. A sustainable future doesn’t grow out of a to-do list, but from a desire for the kind of lifestyle that brings us back to ourselves. - Terri Trespicio

Here-here to that, sister! Though it is tough to get away from cleaning the bathroom and doing laundry, most “modern” inventions and products end up making our lives more cluttered and complicated instead of relieving us of senseless stress. Keeping things simple (or at least progressing them towards that end of the spectrum) is the overall theme of Body+Soul Magazine’s April 2008 issue - right in time for Earth Day, of course.

Learning how to kick back and take things in stride is the theme of this issue’s Reader to Reader column (page 20) . In celebration of the premiere of Sundance Channel The Green’s second season on April 1st, Body+Soul is giving away a luxury goody bag (worth over $2,500!) to one lucky reader. All you have to do is reply to this month’s Share Your Wisdom - “When’s the last time you did something out of character, unplanned, or spontaneous? What effect did it have, and what surprise you about the act - or results?” Selected responses will be printed in the August 2008 issue. Visit the Body+Soul website to enter and for more details.

[[ KEEP READING! THE REST OF THE REVIEW IS AT FEELGOODSTYLE.COM]]

March 17th - Tools to Use: Knitting Needles by Kelly Rand: “Learning to knit can seem a bit overwhelming, especially if you are familiar with long-time knitters and all of their tools and many needles. At the basic level, all you need to get started is a pair of needles and some yarn. Beyond that there are some very helpful tools to consider and …”

March 17th - Recycled Jewelry: Where Has Your Jewelry Been? by Juliet Ames: “At the heart of the green crafting movement are artists using bizarre materials to make their crafts. I absolutely love making and wearing jewelry made out of unexpected materials. When has a gold heart necklace from the mall ever sparked a conversation in the way …”

March 18th - Top 5 Must-Have DIY Crochet Tomes by Victoria Everman: “Often the second banana to the world of knitting, crochet is steadily gaining more followers thanks to just how easy it is to pick up the hobby. Instead of using two needles, all you need is a ball of yarn and a crochet hook to create everything from toys and toaster covers to …”

March 18th - Artifacts: Caution! You are Entering a Go Spin Zone. by Autumn Wiggins: “It’s a warm sunny day in a quaint suburban park. Children are in line for a turn on the slide, but a bakers dozen have gathered around a picnic blanket under a nearby tree. Puzzled parents suspect a stranger is handing out candy, or has a Spongebob episode …”

March 18th - Fabulous Fabrics: Oliveira Textiles by Skye Kilaen (more…)

Time for another weekly edition of Carnival of the Green, organized by the nifty folks at TreeHugger. Last week, the COTG was hosted by Natural Collection; next week, hosting duties are covered by Conserve Plastic Bags.

LET’S GET TO THE POSTS!

Though a bit late for the holiday, Innstyle Montana offers up tips on how to be green on St. Patrick’s Day.

It was a busy posting week over at LifeGoogles. First up are the 2nd Green Link Love - Other Great Green Sites post and the 9th Fun Green Roundup. Also up this week are two eco-product review posts: one for the Radius Toothbrush and another titled Real Deal Recycled Tarp Hat.

Emmett Duffy from The Natural Patriot says that, “bugs are the key link in food webs,” in his In Praise of Maggots post.

Green Building Elements tells us about a manufacturer who is close to producing glass windows that are “several times more efficient than even the best current windows available,” in their Super Insulating Vacuum Glass post.

By paying just 10% more, you can get a house that uses 90% less electricity and 50% less water, according to Eco Joe’s.

The Tao of Change talks about hunting from an environmental perspective in Hunting 101.

Green Pastures’ post New USEPA Smog Regulation Could Lower Your Health Bills, and Even Save Your Life is great news for asthmatics and outdoor lovers alike.

Green Me features a review of the Ecology Cooking vegan cook book, along with 3 recipes from the book.

The Blue Voice group blog talks about the Vernal Equinox and Bill McKibben’s inspiration writings in the Springing Into The Future post.

Sarah Roe from the Jetson Green blog talks about durable and stylish Many Moons Design’s Reclaimed Handcrafted Furniture this week.

John Beetham, writer of A DC Birding Blog, talks about species protection and its current roadblocks in the Bush Administration Prevents New Listings Under the Endangered Species Act post.

Fake Plastic Fish, a.k.a Beth Terry, features an amusing and educational post titled A Rant on Shaving and the Power of Advertising this week; “I find myself questioning the idea of shaving in the first place,” she says.

Despite all of the progress the environmental movement has made, being both chic and sustainable is still often seen as a frivolous combination. Apparently, growing your own food and wearing stylish, eco-friendly fashions are two separate worlds that we shouldn’t combine.

Not anymore!

Impressively experienced writer Christie Matheson just released her 5th book titled Green Chic: Saving The Earth In Style with Illinois-based Sourcebooks publishing company. Even with the ridiculous influx of eco-living books available in stores, it is safe to say that there is nothing like Green Chic on the shelves. Christie explains it best: “It’s not about buying your way to being green - or just appearing green - it’s about shifting your mindset, changing your attitude, and developing a personal style that is green.”

This is quite a statement to make in a country of citizens who hate to change their personal habits. But if anyone can get through to the superficial yet sustainably curious masses, it’s Christie and Green Chic. Always the thorough writer, Christie personally tried all of her own tips and openly explains the ins and outs of living sustainably and stylish at the same time. Not only is fashion and beauty covered their own chapters, but she also covers: dining, drinking, home, transportation, travel, parties, big and small changes.

It wouldn’t be much of a green book if it wasn’t printed on recycled paper, no? (more…)

March 9th — Put All Your Eggs in One Basket by Autumn Wiggins: “A traditional Easter requires quite a bit of wasteful accoutrement. If you are trying to go green, there’s a lot of ground to cover. Maybe you’re already making preparations to color eggs with natural dyes, or even sprouting your own wheat berry grass for baskets instead …”

March 10th — Mapping It Out by Emma Henderson: “Maybe its because I’m longing for a good holiday or perhaps its just that I love the colours and endless possibilities of maps but I’ve been seeing them all over the place recently. This image forms part of a collection of maps belonging to designer Benita Larson via Poppytalk. I love …”

March 10th — Journals to Check Out by Kelly Rand: “I have about a gazillion journals. They can be found stashed all about my house, so as to be within easy reach when an idea strikes (at least that’s what I tell myself). In truth, my journal collection stems from my inability of locating the journal that I had last put pen to paper. I can never …”

March 10th — Recycled Newspaper Crafts by Juliet Ames: “Here at Crafting in a Green World, we clearly like crafting with recycling paper! Emma’s post on maps and Autumn’s posts on recycling folded paper and Playing Card Bags made me want to risk the paper cuts to craft. I am discovering, through writing these blog posts, that I am …”

March 10th — Green Crafter Highlight: Meet Sweet Pepita! by Juliet Ames: “Even our littlest crafters deserve hip eco-friendly clothing, and that is exactly what you will find at Sweet Pepita. This green crafter extraordinaire dropped her metal smithing tools for a sewing machine after the birth of her daughter Pepita, in an effort to make …”

March 11th — Green Pop Shop at Poppytalk Handmade by Victoria Everman (more…)

Are you getting sick of my little intros? If so, leave a comment and let me know. If enough folks say “yes”, then I’ll simply provide you good readers with the Crafting a Green World weekly collection of posts.

March 2nd — Artifacts: Tune In, Turn On, Tie Knots. This is Macrame. by Autumn Wiggins: “Yes, I know what you’re thinking…plant hangers and googly eyed owls…haha. Make fun all you want, but you’ll be overlooking one of the most sustainable, inexpensive, and meditative craft techniques out there. I’ve tried …”

March 3rd — Recycled Glass Art by Juliet Ames: “I am having such a great time discovering artists using recycled materials in their crafts. I was so excited about this recycled glass artist, I could barely wait until Monday to share it with the CAGW readers! John Bassett has been making these amazing glass panels and …”

March 3rd — Tools to Use: Scissors by Kelly Rand: “Another thing to consider when crafting with an environmental conscious are your tools and what they are made from. Tools made from recycled or sustainable materials are out there and available for use. One of the first items on any crafter’s list is a good pair of scissors …”

March 4th — Join BurdaStyle’s First Mini Sewalong Challenge by Victoria Everman: “Looking to add some spice to your Spring wardrobe? Need a new creative project to work on? We introduced you to Burda Style during the early days of our blog. Now its time to share the details for their first mini-challenge for all the …”

March 4th — Fabulous Fabrics: Organic Cotton from Mod Green Pod by Skye Kilaen (more…)