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.

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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.’

After their first critically-acclaimed season of Big Ideas for A Small Planet TV series, Sundance Channel has returned with a vibrant second season that borders on being even better than the first. Episodes about power alternatives, water, food, youth culture and home decorating have already aired, but the next BIFASP premiere is a subject close to my heart (and personal experience) - fashion.

From Sundance Channel’s website: In this episode, environmental consciousness hits the fashion world as style means sustainable fabric and earth-friendly manufacturing practices. Meet men and women who are bringing green to fashion, clothing stores and the dry cleaners.

Having reviewed their episode about fashion, called “Wear”, from season one of Big Ideals for A Small Planet, I was eager to see how they planned on expanding on the concept of sustainable style. The first thing viewers are greeted with is, “Americans have an extraordinary love affair with clothing. The problem is that every step of the clothing process generates pollution.” Spoken by now-infamous eco-journalist Simran Sethi, I could think of no better way to start an episode of fashion, especially one that is meant to both inform and educate.

I am resisting saying that this episode is better than “Wear” from season one, but it is a tough toss-up. Premiering next Tuesday, May 6th at 9pm EST and PST, the 25-minute installment focuses on three topics: organic denim, sustainable clothing, and green dry cleaning. Features within these segments, Bay Area-based Tierra Forte of Del Forte Denim is featured, along with the founder crew of Portland, Oregon’s NAU clothing line and Rusty Perry, Co-Founder of Colorado’s Revolution Cleaners.

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In our go-go society, don’t you miss the days of personal connections with … well … everyone! A large basis behind the sustainable agriculture movement is going to farmer’s markets and being able to meet those that grow your food face-to-face. What if we could start doing that in other areas too?

Enter: Skin - a new all natural beauty brand made by-hand in Kansas by founder Stephanie Simkins. “Skin is the culmination of my passion for all things real, natural, organic and living. Nothing fake. No chemicals. No additives,” Stephanie says.

“As a nutrition consultant, organic cook, and herbalist, I combine my love of holistic healing, whole foods, and nutrition, along with the use of organic oils and botanicals to create products I believe will nourish your mind, body, and spirit. Everything in the Skin brand line is made in small batches, by hand, with love. Real and Simple. The way it was then, the way it should be now.” Ah, made with love - what a novel concept, no?

When I received a delightful email from Stephanie offering to let me sample her new line, I couldn’t say no. My collection of samples and full-size products arrived swiftly in my mailbox; the package (with recycled bubble wrap inside) was I promptly ripped open and shared with my mother, who was then visiting from Connecticut.

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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]]

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…)

Unless you live a Compact-like lifestyle, you are going to be shopping on a somewhat regular basis. Whether it be home improvements, gifts, furnishings, crafts, gardening, fashions, babies, sports, pets or anything else you have going on, there is a green option to be found.

But where do you buy from? I’m all for promoting local businesses and buying from small stores right in your own town. Unfortunately, depending on where you live, you may have little to no options in that category. The easiest thing to do is log on to the internet (and you already have since you are reading this) and partake in the massive variety it has to offer.

After the runaway success with their first thepurplebook: the definitive guide to exceptional online shopping in 2000, authors Hillary Mendelsohn and Ian Anderson have released a number of specialized editions. Hitting book shelves in January 2008, thepurplebook Green: An Eco-friendly Online Shopping Guide is the latest of their incarnations.

New to the eco-lifestyle or so sustainably settled that you have a composting toilet and solar panels, thepurplebook Green Edition has something to offer everyone. Though the book is about shopping, it continually reminds readers to reuse what they already have. “The greenest thing you can do is to extend the lifespan of the products you already own,” says Hillary in the book’s introduction. “When it comes to shopping, it’s usually a matter of buying eco-friendly versions of the same products you already use.”

A simply worded, yet somewhat extensive, chapter on The Green Lifestyle covers everything from buying organic and conserving water to renewable energy options and avoiding petroleum-based products. The next chapter, Eco-Shopping 101, gives an informative overview of what it means to buy green in all areas of life, including food & drink, household goods, health & beauty, apparel, babies, pets, furnishing, gardening, home improvement and more. As a fashion maven, I was impressed with Hillary’s coverage of sustainable fabrics by including their drawbacks and lack of regulation.

[[ KEEP READING! THE REST OF THE REVIEW IS AT SUSTAINABLOG.ORG ]]

My boyfriend has a nose like a dog. Because of this, I’ve become accustomed to not wearing perfume and opening the bathroom window after I apply scented lotions. When it comes to cleaning, whether it be the kitchen counters or our weekly two loads of laundry, I have to be sure to use all natural scents that won’t make him dizzy. You could say that his nose is the same as a person with sensitive skin.

When I read the “Making Sense of Scents” feature article (page 107) in this month’s Body+Soul, I identified with it right away. As a child, I used to have terrible skin reactions when my mother would use anything other than Tide laundry detergent and Downy softener. Though I am not sure if it had anything to do with the scents in the products, reading that “skin allergies are the most common and proven adverse reactions to synthetic fragrances” sure did get me thinking.

Writer Frances Lefkowitz provides a great amount of data to back up the fact that all these unnatural smells infiltrating our senses are having nothing but negative effects. Of course, no article of this kind would be good without some helpful suggestions to avoid these chemicals, and those are provided thoroughly.

One major effect that scents can have on a human is altering emotions and moods. Unpleasant or bitter smells usually make my intestines clench up, which leads to a most uncomfortable day. According to “Belly Up” (page 64), by the same Frances Lefkowitz from the previous article, Traditional Chinese Medicine’s chi nei tsang (CNT) massage technique might be just what I need.

[[ KEEP READING! THE REST OF THE REVIEW IS AT SUSTAINABLOG.ORG ]]

Let me preface this post by saying that I grew up in Indiana and have a certain fondness for corn. With that being said, just how much this unique crop has been homogenized and commercialized is nothing short of disgusting. Released last year, the eco/foodie documentary King Corn presents a dramatic and grounding perspective on just how much corn is now a part of our lives … even in ways we didn’t expect.

If you are looking for my final say on the movie, I’ll save you some time and tell you right now: buy this movie. Don’t just go see it - buy it. Now, if you want to know what I’m such a fan of it, feel free to keep reading along.

The documentary starts off a bit slow, but it takes much-needed time to introduce everything that is going on. For the first half hour, it seemed like it is going to be all about how fantastic corn is and how it is ok for it to be such a freakishly massive part of our lives. Thankfully, that all changes pretty quickly as co-producers and co-stars Ian Cheney (left, in the picture above) and Curt Ellis (right) are shown the error of America’s ways in rapid succession. You almost feel as though your are right there with them, every step of the way, feeling their shock and awe at just how much our food system has changed in a matter of two generations.

Even though I grew up in part of the heart of the “corn belt”, I was unaware that a large percentage of these questionable changes to our industrial food system happened in 1973, thanks to a man named Earl Butz. (more…)

A new year, a new opportunity to turn our lives around; 2008 is a leap year, so we even get an extra day to do all those lovely things we enjoy doing (be rarely make the time for). I’m not sure about you, but this new year has been quite busy and productive so far for me. The question herein lies if all this progress is due to the rush of a new beginning or simply finally having “paid” all my “dues.”Philosophical contemplation aside, the January/February 2008 issue of Body+Soul arrived in my mailbox just a few days after this new year was rung in. Eager as usual, I read through it in less than 48 hours and am here to share its goodness with you.

Stay healthy all year long! This month, find easy tips on how to get more sleep, feel less stress, eat better, and more. Stay looking fresh all winter with our cold-weather skin survival guide and indoor workouts to keep your energy up. Plus, taste power-packed versions of your favorite soups.

New beginnings tend to make me think not only of all the good things I have accomplished, but also all the frustrations and challenges I have been through. Hindsight is 20/20 and now that these trying events have passed, it gives us all a chance to truly see what we have learned from the tribulations life throws at as. This is also the theme of the Reader to Reader section (page 18) of this Body+Soul issue. From financial stress and childhood afflictions to selfless giving and facing death, B+S readers share their tales of inner abundance openly and graciously. By visiting the Reader to Reader section online, you can read their stories and submit your own experiences with unexpected plenty.

“The secret to abundance lies in striking a balance between not enough and way too much.” Continuing the theme of simple pleasures and unexpected joy, Terri Trespicio’s feature titled “More Than Enough” (page 107) greets us with the previously mentioned quote. Battling between our societal desires to continually move up (and therefore bigger) and the basic enjoyment of a sunny morning, fresh muffin, or tender smile may not be as much of a challenge as we think.

[[ KEEP READING! THE REST OF THE REVIEW IS AT SUSTAINABLOG.ORG ]]

Is it possible to catch two different colds in the span of two weeks? I am certainly starting to think so. Though I suppose it would be even less fun to have a runny nose and sore throat during the summertime, I am a lot less eager to bake holiday cookies or wrap presents when I have to stop every 3-4 minutes to blow my nose.

Curled up with a steaming cup of tea, these back-to-back colds have given me a chance to catch up on a lot of reading, including the latest issue of Body+Soul:

Have it all! In our latest issue, get expert advice on saving money, staying positive, finding more time, breaking a food rut, and many more of your holiday and 2008 resolutions. In the spirit of having your cake and eating it, too, we have holiday eating strategies, and 10 ways to fight off a fever this season.

My eyes were instantly drawn to the “10 Best Cold and Flue Fighters” (page 126) headline, of course. The usual all-natural suspects are on the list: echinacea, garlic, ginger, and oscillococcinum. Ever since reading about astragalus, second on their top 10 list, I’ve seen it featured in Whole Foods and all over the web. Foods you likely already have in your kitchen (or can easily get) - olive oil, dried mushrooms, and elderberries - make the list as well, proving that you should feed both cold AND a fever (contrary to what the old wives tale claims). The article provides concise history and medical proof of each remedy, making this a must-save piece for the rest of this cold/flu season and subsequent ones in the coming years. (more…)

Billboards, commercials, shopping bags, newspapers, pop-up ads … do you ever get sick of all the media around you? Finding anyone that is talking about something that actually matters is harder than ever these days, but a group of folks (in Los Angeles of all places) is doing just that.

Started only last year, GOOD Magazine is now up to its 7th issue and gains new subscribers every day. Billed as a magazine for folks who “give a damn,” GOOD donates the entirety of its $20 subscription price to a non-profit organization of your choice. Their goal is to reach $1 million in donations and they have just recently passed the half way point.

If you are going to talk about things that matter and reach out to people who “give a damn,” you better talk about the environment. Covering the entire breadth of social, spiritual, financial and political developments, GOOD consistently includes updates and features about eco-issues that affect us all in one way or another.

Having subscribed to the magazine since its first issue, I always learn something new from their intelligent, mildly-opinionated writings. Whether you agree or disagree with what you read, GOOD avidly encourages readers to voice their opinions on their site and via conversation with both friends and enemies. The fact that Green Options hasn’t yet reviewed an issue of GOOD is nothing short of a travesty, but that is all about to change. As with all their other issues, the November/December 2007 installment of GOOD discusses a medley of green concerns and successes. (more…)

I’ve been putting off this review for almost two weeks now. Why? Worry … worrying about the job I will do. So far, my reviews of Body+Soul magazine have been quite detailed and, in my eyes, seem like more of a “re-hash” of each issue’s contents instead of more personal opinion pieces. With my plans to change things up firmly in place, all I had to do was start writing - that sounded a lot easier than it was. Having the internet just a click away made it all the easier to keep my mind distracted, despite the work I had sitting right in front of me.

You might be thinking, “is the October issue so bad that she can’t even bring herself to write about it?” Not at all! As usual Body+Soul came out with another great issue that I could put down; in fact, I finished it in two days.

Take charge of your life! In our latest issue, learn the essential strategies you need to break free from stress, curb your food cravings, and take control of your heart health. Find out the secrets to natural beauty, tips to greener living, and our picks for fall beauty. Plus, we’ve done the research, now see the results: Body+Soul’s “best of yoga.”

It is highly ironic that I was having such a hard time writing about a publication whose feature store is about how to “Stop Stressing [and] Start Living!” After reading this piece by senior editor Terri Trespicio (the magazine would truly not be the same without her), it became quite noticeable just how many times in the day I start to stress and/or worry about silly things that didn’t deserve my mind’s time. I’m sure having clinical anxiety doesn’t help, but that doesn’t mean I need to be fretting about things that a) I can barely, if at all, control or b) don’t have any impact on my personal happiness or the joy of those around me.

“We identified six types of worriers and asked experts … to show us how each type can get a handle on their hand-wringing. Chances are you’ll see yourself in more than one of the following worry profiles - and that’s okay (we did, too).” Boy, did I ever! Three of the six “types” hit pretty close to home with me: the generalist (”I worry all the time about everything.”), the rehasher (”It’s not voluntary; I get stuck in a mental loop.”), and last but not least, the worldwide worrier (”I worry about the generic engineering of crops and animals. I worry that the bees are dying.”). One article isn’t going to change my mind’s odd process, but it is a good start. Terri did a beautiful amount of research and talked to a range of expects (the Buddhist psychotherapist was one of my favorites) and I think this piece can really hit home with just about every reader.

One of the big things that I worry about is my health, which, thankfully, I do have a fair amount of “control” over (genetics aside). My mother is currently on medication for high blood pressure (mostly from stress, I’m sure) and my father passed away last year from a rare bleeding-of-the-heart issue, so anytime my ticker gets funky, the rest of my body and mind goes on high alert. New info and articles about managing our cholesterol come out all the time, but Carolyn Edy’s “Take Charge of Your Cholesterol” is one of the few that didn’t make me feel anxious after reading it.

Do I eat enough fruits and vegetables? No. Do I exercise at least 3 times a week? No. These are two of the main things that I know I need to improve; that’s obvious. According to the Healthy Heart Action Plan that accompanies the article, I am doing a few things right already — maintaining a healthy weight, taking supplements, limiting refined carbs, and relaxing. Like most readers, I’m not perfect, but now I have a solid education of the topic of cholesterol and how to manage it without stressing or eating like a rabbit.

Other swank highlights from the October issue:

• Pantry Primer: Nuts (page 60)
• Think on Your Feet (page 94)
• The Secrets to Natural Beauty (page 122)
• The Best Yoga for You (page 137)

[Green Options]