tag:www.naturalawakenings.com,2005:/categories/green-living?page=51Green Living Green Living | Natural Awakenings Magazine Page 51Healthy Living Healthy Planet2019-08-28T16:29:58-04:00urn:uuid:41da729d-e18d-4283-b104-da50861114f72019-08-28T16:29:57-04:002019-08-28T16:29:58-04:00Green Halloween: Tricks for Earth-Friendly Treats2009-10-01 03:00:00 -0400Anonymous<p>
<span class="dropcap">T</span>he scariest aspects of Halloween are the unhealthy sugar overload and disposable waste in costumes, decorations and pumpkins left to rot. Ranking second only to Christmas as America’s best-loved holiday in a <a href="http://FamilyFun.com">FamilyFun.com</a> poll, Halloween started going green across the country last year with the help of a grassroots, volunteer-run initiative on the Web at <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.greenhalloween.org/">www.GreenHalloween.org</a></span>.</p>
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While the movement started in Seattle in 2007, spreading to New York City and Phoenix, neighborhood, school and community groups around the United States and Canada are now getting in on the act. Founder Corey Colwell-Lipson is behind the move to get people to “think outside the candy box.” Thousands are logging on for start-to-finish ideas for staging local eco-Halloween festivities.</p>
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One twist is to substitute alternative keepsakes like yarn bracelets, seed packets, polished stones, organic fruit leathers and foreign stamps instead of candy. A 2003 Yale University study found that nearly half of young trick-or-treaters picked a small toy over candy when given the choice. Another option is reverse trick-or-treating, an initiative of Global Exchange, where kids hand out free samples of fair trade chocolate with an informational card on the benefits of supporting fair practices in the cocoa industry (search trick-or-treat at <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.globalexchange.org/">www.GlobalExchange.org</a></span>).</p>
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:8fbde20b-06de-432e-8e35-055906be3a932019-08-28T16:30:00-04:002019-08-28T16:30:00-04:00The Bright Green Future: Green Industries are Expanding and
Customers are Committed2009-10-01 03:00:00 -0400Brita Belli<p>Going green is not just a trend—it’s a full-scale shift that’s taken place across the consumer landscape in every market. In one recent study, the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies found that half of the survey respondents would “definitely” or “probably” pay more for eco-friendly laundry detergent or an automobile. Even those who described their financial situation as “fair” or “poor” expressed their willingness to spend 15 percent more on environmentally friendly detergent and wood furniture.</p><p>As the market continuously shifts toward healthier options—both for people and the planet—companies that produce everything from cars to cosmetics to clean energy systems are responding with greater options and lower prices.</p> <p><strong><br>Organic and Local Food</strong><br>Research by Packaged Facts reports that organic food sales have continued to grow over the past year, albeit at an annual rate closer to 6 percent, compared to the 20 percent of better years. The researchers found that “premium customers,” those earning $75,000 per year or more, increased their organic purchases in the past year. Also, some 33 percent of those earning much less still seek out organic labels at the grocery store.</p><p>Organic foodies are committed to the healthfulness promised by fruits, veggies, juices, cereals, meats and other food staples that aren’t produced or raised with harmful additives or toxic pesticides. From Stop & Shop’s Nature’s Promise to Whole Foods’ 365 Organic Everyday Value and Wegmans’ Food You Feel Good About, supermarket brands now offer organic items ranging from crackers to butter and chicken at prices comparable to non-organic versions.</p><p>This emerging shift means we have a chance at making progress in restoring our land and water and better safeguarding life from the hazards of industrial agriculture, in which pesticides and herbicides and in the case of meat, antibiotics and hormones, harm soil quality and contaminate our water supplies. Demand for local foods from farmers’ markets and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs has seen an upswing, too. More buyers are expressing concern with “food miles”—how far food travels from farm to plate—resulting in needless carbon doxide emissions during transport and reduced taste. Says vegetarian cookbook author Deborah Madison, “I like everything about a farmers’ market. It’s vital, it’s alive, it’s the best-tasting food.”</p> <p>Contact: Organic Consumers Association, OrganicConsumers.org.</p> <p><strong><br>Green Building</strong><br>Buildings in the United States account for 38 percent of primary energy use and carbon dioxide emissions, making them a top contributor to global warming, according to the Environmental Information Administration. The green building movement now encompasses improved insulation and heating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; energy-efficient windows and appliances; low-flow commodes and showers; use of recycled and more durable materials for roofs, decks and countertops; and paints free of volatile organic compounds. According to McGraw-Hill Construction’s Green Outlook 2009, the overall green building market is likely to more than double from today’s $46 billion to $49 billion to $96 billion to $140 billion by 2013.</p><p>Increasing awareness of the benefits of green building, combined with a national push for healthier homes and green jobs, has led to opportunities for homeowners. Federal tax credits are available for up to 30 percent of the cost for various metal and asphalt roofs, biomass stoves (used for heat or water heating), increased insulation and more energy-efficient windows, doors, air conditioners and water heaters. Details are available at the government’s Energy Star website.</p><p>More, the the Federal Housing Administration is offering Energy Efficient Mortgages to new homebuyers who commit to significant energy-saving improvements or who purchase an Energy Star-rated home.</p> <p>Contact: Energy Star green building tax credit information, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.energystar.gov/">www.EnergyStar.gov</a></span>, search “tax credits”; U.S. Green Building Council, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.usgbc.org/">www.usgbc.org</a></span>.</p> <p><strong><br>Renewable Energies</strong><br>Despite the poor economy, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reported that 2008 was one of solar energy’s best years: Here at home, solar power connected to the electric grid was up 58 percent, and solar water heating capacity grew 40 percent. The research firm Clean Edge reports that, worldwide, solar is expected to grow from a $29.6 billion industry in 2008 to $80.6 billion by 2018. In 2008, the United States surpassed Germany to become the world leader in wind energy; that industry is projected to expand from $51.4 billion in 2009 to $139.1 billion in 2018. A host of other renewable energies promise bright futures, too, including geothermal, hydropower and biofuels.</p><p>For those who want to convert their house to renewable energies, cost is a factor. Solar panels generally cost between $35,000 to $72,000 before rebates and tax incentives. Solar water heaters are a universally cost-effective way to go; at $2,000 to $4,000 for 80-100 gallons, they can provide more than half a home’s hot water needs. Wrapping a water heater in a space-age insulation blanket and hooking it up to its own timer, at about $200, installed, is another way to cut energy usage and utility bills.</p><p>Residential wind turbines—as tall as 80 feet or more—depend on a host of factors to make them feasible, including unobstructed land, building codes and cost considerations. A 10-kW system will cost about $40,000.</p><p>For anyone building a new home, a geothermal heat pump is one of the best long-term energy investments. Pipes are buried in the ground outside the home, where the temperature remains stable; these move heat from the ground via encased fluid to the home’s ductwork during cold months and reverse the process in hot months. The overall system costs about $7,500, more than a $4,000 furnace and central air system, but it requires little maintenance. Payback can come in as little as two years.</p><p>Many incentives help. A 30 percent tax credit is available through 2016 for home renewable energy systems (search the Energy Star website). Local utilities often offer further rebates and incentives (search Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency). For solar panels, tap into a Residential Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), where a customer pays a small upfront cost to a company such as SunRun to guarantee a set electricity rate for the next 18 years.</p> <p>Contact: American Wind Energy Association, awea.org; <br>Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.dsireusa.org/">www.dsireusa.org</a></span>; Energy Star tax information, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.energystar.gov/">www.EnergyStar.gov</a></span>, search “tax credits”; Solarbuzz, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.solarbuzz.com/">www.Solarbuzz.com</a></span>; SunRun, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.sunrunhome.com/">www.SunRunHome.com</a></span>.</p><p><strong><br>Organic Clothing and Linens</strong><br>While major brands like Levi, Gap and American Apparel have introduced organic clothing lines in the last few years, organic and natural fiber fabrics, including sustainable bamboo and hemp, is still a niche market. While people now better understand the health benefits of organic foods, “Most consumers don’t understand organic… when it comes to clothing,” says Mark Messura, executive vice president of Cotton Incorporated.</p><p>Patagonia makes all of its sportswear from 100 percent organic cotton, a practice it began in 1996. Recently, a more widespread advance in green standards for all consumer products has emerged from an unlikely source: Walmart. In July 2009, the retail giant announced that it is developing a universal rating system and “eco label” that lets shoppers know the environmental impacts of the products they are buying, from energy consumption to water use.</p><p>For cotton clothing and bedding, pesticide and water use are major concerns. Petra Kjell, of the Environmental Justice Foundation reports, for example, that it requires 500 gallons of water to produce one conventional cotton T-shirt. Traditional cotton production continues to be tied to dangerous levels of toxic pesticides and insecticides.</p><p>Eco fashion offers an eclectic mix from emerging designers. They may use surplus designer fabric, T-shirts made from bamboo, or fleece made from recycled soda bottles. Vintage and consignment clothes work well, while “refashion”—like dresses made from T-shirts—are widely available on sites like <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/">www.Etsy.com</a></span>.</p><p>Sheets, pillows and mattresses all come in organic varieties, too. More, they are often superior in quality and durability to their cheaper conventional counterparts.</p> <p>Contact: Environmental Justice Foundation, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.ejfoundation.org/">www.EJFoundation.org</a></span>; <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/">www.Etsy.com</a></span>; Patagonia, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/">www.Patagonia.com</a></span>.</p> <p><strong><br>Cleaner Lawns and Gardens<br></strong>According to a fact sheet from the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, sales of organic lawn and garden products increased by 64 percent between 2002 and 2006 and continue to grow. It’s no secret that Americans are enthusiastic about their perfectly manicured, green lawns, but they’re also increasingly aware of the environmental impacts. Some are rethinking lawns altogether, switching to native ground cover and other plants as an alternative.</p><p>Lawn maintenance equipment is a major environmental problem with grass. A traditional gas-powered mower, notes the Environmental Protection Agency, produces as much air pollution as 43 new cars, each driven 12,000 miles; 54 million Americans mow their lawns each weekend. One alternative is the electric mower, which produces no exhaust, requires little maintenance and is much quieter and lighter than its gas-guzzling cousin. Models from Black & Decker, Neuton, Sunlawn and other companies come in corded and cordless varieties, with charges that can last up to an hour.</p><p>Even more problematic, a study by Purdue University confirms that 30 to 60 percent of all urban freshwater is used for watering lawns, which also entails 67 million pounds of pesticides that end up contaminating water systems as runoff. Native plants, on the other hand, require nothing but rainfall to thrive.</p><p>Also, more people are turning to rain barrels. Placed under a home’s downspout, these can hold up to 100 gallons and have a spigot for attaching a hose. An added benefit of using rainwater is that plants prefer it.</p> <p>Contact: Clean Air Gardening, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.cleanairgardening.com/">www.CleanAirGardening.com</a></span>.</p><p> </p><p><strong><br>Natural Products</strong><br>The market research firm Packaged Facts reported in July 2009 that the natural health and beauty care market, which grew 8 percent in 2008 and is approaching $7 billion, is likely to reach sales of $12 billion by 2014. “Many Americans fear the health consequences of using chemical-laden deodorant, shampoo, foundation and other personal care products,” says Tatjana Meerman, the research publisher. It’s easy to search for the content—and safety—of preferred brand-name products at the Skin Deep online database, maintained by the Environmental Working Group. All of this is good news for the environment, because the chemicals in personal care products find their way through bathing and disposal into the soil and water supplies, where they can negatively impact aquatic life and potentially, human health.</p><p>The same holds true for common household cleaners and chemical air fresheners, which contribute to indoor air pollution and can aggravate respiratory illnesses like asthma. One 2008 study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that households that regularly used cleaning sprays had a 30 to 50 percent increased risk of experiencing asthma.</p><p>People are demanding healthier alternatives and the market is responding. While neither beauty products nor cleaners generally disclose their harmful ingredients, natural and organic alternatives from companies like Seventh Generation offer detailed labels. Conscious shoppers are reading them as they look for plant-based ingredients and essential oils, instead of chemicals.</p><p>People can even make their own household cleaners, such as distilled white vinegar and water to clean windows, or baking soda, lemon juice and salt to scrub grout. These are safe for even the most sensitive family members.</p> <p>Contact: Natural Products Association, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.naturalproductsassoc.org/">www.NaturalProductsAssoc.org</a></span>; Skin Deep, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/">www.CosmeticsDatabase.com</a></span>.</p> <p><strong><br>Efficient Autos and Going Car-Free</strong><br>The car market has taken a serious hit from the economy, hybrids included. But while even the popular Toyota Prius saw sales drop 44 percent between December 2007 and December 2008, environmentally friendly vehicles are the declared future of the auto industry.</p><p>This year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit was all about electric models, from the Cadillac Converj, a more luxurious version of the Chevy Volt, to the Toyota FT-EV city car, expected in showrooms in 2012. Hybrid cars combine the gas engine with an electric motor and utilize a car’s braking energy, making them both more fuel efficient and less polluting. In the government’s 2009 Fuel Economy Guide, the Honda’s Civic Hybrid was cited as a leader among compact cars, delivering 40 miles per gallon in the city/45 mpg on the highway. Among midsized cars, the Prius tops the list with 48/45 mpg; in the SUV class, Ford’s Escape Hybrid gets a solid 34/31 mpg. </p><p>Because they can cost $2,000-plus more than gas-powered cars, hybrids are a tough sell at the moment. Several federal tax credits designed to ease the transition to hybrid, electric and other fuel-efficient vehicles, like diesels, have come and gone, the latest called Cash for Clunkers—a federal stimulus program that offered up to $4,500 to anyone who traded an old gas-guzzler for a new, more fuel-efficient car. The discussion has many people seriously rethinking their transportation options.</p><p>At the same time, the American Public Transportation Association reported a 4 percent increase in public transportation ridership last year—bringing it to its highest level in 52 years. Bicycle sales are picking up, too. In the first quarter of 2009, U.S. bicycle sales surpassed car sales.</p><p>Rising interest in bicycle riding has led many cities to open bike lanes. National efforts to create safe paths for bike riders include the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile traffic-free trail system between Canada and Florida that’s 21 percent complete. The San Francisco Bay Trail has developed 300 miles of shoreline trails for bikers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts over the past 20 years, with an eventual goal of 500 miles. Today’s evolving bicycle designs include folding models for commuters and a range of trailers, carriers and attachments for those who want to start shopping by bike and bring the kids.</p> <p>Contact: U.S. Department of Energy, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.fueleconomy.gov/">www.FuelEconomy.gov</a></span>; East Coast Greenway, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.greenway.org/">www.Greenway.org</a></span>; The San Francisco Bay Trail Project, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.baytrail.abag.ca.gov/">www.BayTrail.abag.ca.gov</a></span>.</p> <p><strong><br>Green Investing</strong><br>Jack Uldrich, the author of Green Investing: A Guide to Making Money through Environment-Friendly Stocks, says that, despite the recession, “I still think cleantech is an outstanding long-term investment trend.” Still, he cautions that green stocks should only comprise 5 percent to 10 percent of an investor’s portfolio. Why? He notes that renewable energy investments are particularly subject to outside forces, such as government investment, the availability of strong credit available to fund solar panels and other energy systems, and the rise and fall of gasoline prices.</p><p>But venture capitalists are still flocking to clean technology ventures such as eSolar Inc., the nation’s first solar tower energy facility, in Pasadena, California, backed by the investment firm Idealab. Ernst & Young reported that investments in cleantech startups jumped 73 percent in the second quarter last year. Paul Deninger, vice president of the investment bank Jefferies & Company, notes that the most exciting opportunities may actually occur in the process of managing current energy use “by happenstance, being green, rather than [in] managing the carbon footprint directly.” </p><p>Matthew Patsky, a partner of the green fund group Winslow Management, observes that in the future, fossil fuel supplies will inevitably be supplanted by clean energy like solar, wind and geothermal. “Renewable energy, green building, mass transit, improving efficiency…” Patsky concludes, “It’s got to win.”</p> <p>Contact: Green Century Capital Management, Inc., <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.greencentury.com/">www.GreenCentury.com</a></span>; Pax World Funds, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.paxworld.com/">www.PaxWorld.com</a></span>; Winslow Management Company, <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.winslowgreen.com/">www.WinslowGreen.com</a></span>.</p> <p><br>Natural Awakenings readers across the country are among those already investing in a greener future—whether switching to organic snacks and energy-efficient light bulbs, supporting local green businesses or bicycling to work. Collectively, these incremental changes are beginning to add up and the markets are responding.</p> <p><br>Brita Belli is the editor of <em>E/The Environmental Magazine</em> and the author of <em>The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Renewable Energy for Your Home</em>. Connect at <span class="link-mailto"><a href="mailto:Brita@emagazine.com">Brita@emagazine.com</a></span>.</p><div class="body-sidebar-right p-4">
<strong>LATEST U.S. ENERGY INNOVATIONS</strong><strong><br><br>Atomic Solar Cells:</strong> The latest innovation in solar technology has taken photovoltaic cells to the atomic level. A California company called Innovalight (Innovalight.com) has invented nano silicon powder that can be added to ink and printed onto various surfaces, turning a whole range of materials into solar power generators for a fraction of the cost of traditional panels.<br><br><strong>Portable Fuel Cells:</strong> Portable fuel cells, which use a process by which methanol reacts with oxygen to create energy, have already found application in the U.S. military. They are more lightweight than the battery packs soldiers typically carry to power their field equipment. The next frontier is consumer electronic devices. MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. (MTIMicroFuelCells.com) unveiled the Mobion charger last year, a power pack prototype that can deliver 25 hours of power per cartridge for cell phones, computers, digital cameras and handheld devices, without the need to rely on batteries.<br><br><strong>Geothermal: </strong>A July 2009 study from New York University’s Stern School of Business found that geothermal energy—power plants pumping super-hot (above 300 degrees Fahrenheit) water to the surface to be captured as steam—is the most efficient form of renewable energy. The future lies in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), which involves drilling even deeper, fracturing rocks that lie kilometers below the surface. To get there, researchers at Stanford University are using nanotechnology that passes nanoparticles into the fractures to determine the feasibility for energy production. For information on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Program, visit www.eere.energy.gov/geothermal.</div><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:66f0df95-fcc5-4df2-b377-fa7e9497d8762019-08-28T16:30:04-04:002019-08-28T16:30:04-04:00Europe Leads: International Support for Small Farmers and Artisans2009-10-01 03:00:00 -0400Anonymous<p><br>Although fair trade is still modest in scope, given the factors of smart product design, business strategies and economies of scale, Europeans are proving that it can be a viable market, even in recessionary times. More than 70 percent of the British populace, for example, now recognizes the fair-trade mark, while just 28 percent of U.S. consumers do, according to a recent survey by the Fairtrade Foundation. More, one in four UK shoppers now regularly buy several fair trade products, while fewer than 6 percent of Americans could even name a fair-trade organization.</p><p>Fair trade is based on the principle of paying workers a fair price for sustainable products. Damien Sanfilippo, a cotton project manager with the international Pesticide Action Network, points out yet another benefit: “Fair trade can provide a stepping stone for [Third World] farmers to convert to organic, because it’s easier to become fair-trade certified,” he says. “Once they have access [to higher fair-trade prices], they can decide to use the premium to finance the training that they need to move towards more sustainable practices—all the way up to organic.”</p><p><br>Source: The Christian Science Monitor </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:911137bc-78f2-403e-b22b-9eb10719c1602019-08-28T16:18:56-04:002019-08-28T16:18:56-04:00Playing with Color: Discover Meaning with Paint2009-09-01 03:00:00 -0400Kate Smith<p>Color affects us on every level—physical, mental and emotional. Our reaction to color is almost instantaneous and has a profound impact on the choices we make every day. We can have fun with and better understand the use of color in our home, based on this psychological snapshot of their meaning.<br><br> </p> <p><strong>BLUE</strong><br>• Overwhelmingly the favorite color <br>• The least gender-specific color, appeals equally to men and women<br>• Symbolizes trustworthiness, dependability and commitment<br>• Calms and cools<br>• Aids intuition</p><p><strong>GREEN</strong><br>• Humanity’s second-favorite color<br>• The color of peace and ecology<br>• Soothes and relaxes<br>• Helps alleviate depression, nervousness and anxiety<br>• Symbolizes renewal, self-control and harmony</p> <p><strong>YELLOW</strong><br>• Advances toward the eye from surrounding colors<br>• Stimulates the nervous system<br>• Sparks creative thoughts<br>• Activates memory and encourages communication<br>• Symbolizes optimism, enlightenment and happiness<br>• Can be irritating; babies cry more in yellow rooms</p> <p><strong>ORANGE</strong><br>• Elicits strong positive or negative associations<br>• Stimulates activity and appetite<br>• Encourages socialization<br>• Some tones (terra cotta, peach and rust) have broad appeal<br>• Associated with fun, flamboyance, warmth and energy</p> <p><strong>RED</strong><br>• Has more personal associations than any other color<br>• Encourages action and confidence<br>• Stimulates energy and can raise the heart rate<br>• Increases enthusiasm<br>• Immediately draws and focuses visual attention</p> <p><strong>PURPLE</strong><br>• Embodies the balance of stimulating red and calming blue<br>• Calms the mind and nerves<br>• Symbolizes mystic, spiritual or royal qualities<br>• Encourages creativity and is often a favorite color of creative people</p> <p><strong>BROWN</strong><br>• Represents stability, reliability and approachability<br>• Engenders feelings of wholesomeness<br>• Offers a sense of orderliness<br>• Associated with all things natural or organic<br>• Symbolizes our connection with the Earth</p> <p><strong>WHITE</strong><br>• Aids mental clarity<br>• Symbolizes purity, cleanliness and neutrality (in the West)<br>• Encourages individuals to clear clutter or obstacles<br>• Enables fresh beginnings</p> <p><strong>GRAY</strong><br>• Mixes well with any color<br>• Often associated with loss or depression<br>• Can be unsettling</p> <p><strong>BLACK</strong><br>• Evokes strong emotions, so too much can be overwhelming<br>• Seen as authoritative and powerful<br>• Symbolizes mystery—both a sense of potential and a restful emptiness</p> <p><br>For personal insights based on color preferences, try these online color quizzes: <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.viewzone.com/">www.ViewZone.com</a></span>: ViewZone.com/luscher.html; Lüscher Color Diagnostics®, based on the work of Dr. Max Luscher: <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.colourtest.ue-foundation.org/kolory/kolor-index2.php">www.ColourTest.ue-foundation.org/kolory/kolor-index2.php</a></span>; and Pratt & Lambert Paints: <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.prattandlambert.com/color/personality-quiz/interior">www.PrattAndLambert.com/color/personality-quiz/interior</a></span>.</p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:76fcff60-af56-4aa6-836e-9739ed9be4c82019-08-28T16:18:59-04:002019-08-28T16:18:59-04:00Online Swap: Cashless Bartering Soars via Internet Match-ups2009-09-01 03:00:00 -0400Anonymous<p>Websites and businesses promoting cash-free transactions are booming from New Hampshire to New Zealand, as people find new ways to make ends meet through bartering and swapping just about any product or service. A spokesman for <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.craigslist.org/">www.Craigslist.org</a></span>, a classified advertising service, says that bartering on the site has doubled in the past year.</p><p>Ron Whitney, of the International Reciprocal Trade Association, reports that about $12 billion worth of business-to-business bartering is transacted each year around the world and that more than 250,000 U.S. businesses participated last year. Now, individuals are following suit via websites and community networks.</p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:83e43105-803c-44f4-b38b-14926120f1452019-08-28T16:19:14-04:002019-08-28T16:19:14-04:00Green Art: Eco-Artists Inspire by Giving Back to Nature2009-09-01 03:00:00 -0400Janina Birtolo<p>Art and nature have always been the closest of companions. Since the earliest cave paintings, artists have looked to the world around them for inspiration, subject matter and the tools of their craft—pigments, brushes, shapers and stories. With the growth of the green art movement in the last several decades, the relationship between art and nature has become even more symbiotic. Today’s eco-artists go beyond taking inspiration from their surroundings; they give back substance that helps nature thrive.</p><p>“Eco-art is currently getting more attention,” observes Lynne Hull, a Colorado-based artist who has been crafting sculptures that also create wildlife habitat. “A number of people are working in different ways, interacting with environmental systems on behalf of conservation.”</p><p>She notes that the eco-art movement began in the late 1960s, as awareness of the environment was just starting to break the surface of our collective consciousness and the first Earth Day was being conceived. Hull, who now creates what she calls trans-species art, turned “green” beginning in the 1980s, while living in Wyoming.<strong><br></strong></p> <p>“There was not much audience in Wyoming for contemporary art then,” she recalls. “I was making art about our relationship with other species and I found I had to ship it out to find an audience. I thought I might as well make art for the animals—and I created a niche. The art world became a lot more interested.”</p><p>In 1983, Hull carved her first water-collecting hydroglyph in Albany County, Wyoming. These works resemble ancient petroglyphs (stone drawings) laid horizontal, but also serve as artistic catch basins for rain, providing precious water for wildlife. By the 1990s, the artist was constructing raptor roosts, to provide nesting sites for eagles and hawks. She has also created floating islands, owl houses, <img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/625824/Green-Art.jpg">canoe trails and “Migration Mileposts” to link communities that share migratory birds. At this point, she has crafted works in 14 states and eight countries (more at Eco-art.org).</p><p>“Mostly, I create structures that can replace damaged nature,” she explains. “The best time to put them in is when restoration is going on, so that nature can take over as the art disintegrates.”</p><p>Her work, Hull says, represents eco-atonement, a phrase she conceived to convey the importance of art—and humanity—working in conjunction with nature. “It’s the idea of trying to make up, to make amends for what humans have done. It should be the responsibility of our whole society.”</p><p>Hull is far from alone in her belief that art can not only raise environmental awareness, but also lead to resolutions. On Vinalhaven Island, Maine, eco-artist Aviva Rahmani has painted rocks along the causeway blue as a means of prompting islanders to correct the tidal blockage that was degrading the surrounding waters (using a mixture of ultramarine pigment and buttermilk to encourage lichen growth).</p><p>Vincent Smythe, a New York artist, creates sculptures from fallen tree branches (see <a href="http://Freewebs.com/vincentfinedesigns/allaboutecoart.htm">Freewebs.com/vincentfinedesigns/allaboutecoart.htm</a>). He also offers Go Green Eco-Art workshops to schoolchildren, teaching them about recyclable materials and the importance of conservation.</p><p>Similarly, Gulfshore Playhouse, a regional theater in Naples, Florida, conducts an elementary school workshop that teaches youngsters to make theater props from recycled materials and then helps them write skits incorporating those props (<span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org/">www.GulfshorePlayhouse.org</a></span>).</p><p>Because the eco-art movement has no geographical center, Hull and her like-minded colleagues have created a virtual center on the Internet. Their online Eco-Art Network connects about 70 member artists who use the site to discuss ideas and opportunities. The movement also has led to the establishment of a cyber-museum at <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.greenmuseum.org/">www.GreenMuseum.org</a></span>, a website that provides information about eco-artists, the movement’s history and its future.</p><p>Hull adds that people intrigued by the concept of eco-art can involve themselves on a small and immediate scale by making natural backyard “sculptures” that invite in wildlife. Her website offers ideas for hibernation shelters for butterflies, birdhouses and even a buglog.</p><p>“I’m on the board of the Fort Collins Audubon Society and am an advocate for habitat gardens,” Hull says. “They’re not difficult to put in. Environmental art is something you can go out and play with. Anything you’re doing outdoors you can make attractive and use it to have a positive impact.”</p><p><br><br><em>Janina Birtolo, a freelance writer in Naples, FL, focuses on art, the environment and developing one-woman performances based on historical characters. Learn more at </em><span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.janinabirtolo.com/"><em>www.JaninaBirtolo.com</em></a></span><em>.</em></p><div class="body-sidebar-right p-4">
<strong>GREEN ART WEBSITES</strong><br>Given the eco-art movement’s strong cyber-presence, the Internet is the place to find helpful resources, from individual artists to do-it-yourself projects. Here is just a sampling:<br><br><span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.eco-art.org/">www.Eco-art.org</a></span> ~ Pictures and explanations of Lynne Hull’s work, as well as how to get involved locally by creating backyard sculptures.<br><br><span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.eco-artware.com/">www.Eco-Artware.com</a></span> ~ Web gallery of works by more than 25 artists.<br><br><span class="link-external"><a href="http://greenartists.tripod.com/">http://GreenArtists.tripod.com</a></span> ~ The Coalition of Green Artists includes artists, educators and philanthropists who warehouse and distribute recycled materials to schools.<br><br><span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.greenmuseum.org/">www.GreenMuseum.org</a></span> ~ Bios of artists and photos of their works, plus movement history, essays and interviews.<br><br><span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.planetgreen.discovery.com/">www.PlanetGreen.Discovery.com</a></span> ~ This Discovery Channel site features the Green Beret blog, which links to various eco-artists, including individuals using beeswax, coffee, rust and recycled paper as media. Search art and eco-art.<br><br><span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.realmilkpaint.com/">www.RealMilkPaint.com</a></span> ~ The Real Milk Paint Co. provides environmentally friendly paints, oils, sealers and pigments.<br><br><span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.recycledmonkey.com/">www.RecycledMonkey.com</a></span> ~ Works by artist Jason Fritzsche, who creates wall art from reclaimed materials.<br><br><span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.simonleeguitars.com/">www.SimonLeeGuitars.com</a></span> ~ Guitars created from recycled plastics.</div><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:ef7c73c7-9e7e-4237-bce2-9a513d9635f52019-08-28T16:32:31-04:002019-08-28T16:32:31-04:00Green School Supplies: Eco-Savvy Shopping Just Got Easier2009-08-01 03:00:00 -0400Betsy S. Franz<p>With all the other things that parents have to worry about when getting kids ready to go back to school, we might be tempted to think that our choices of school supplies don’t matter much. But the National Retail Federation estimates that Americans bought more than $20 billion in back-to-school supplies last year. That’s a lot of paper, pencils and backpacks, which makes a significant impact on the environment.</p><p>That’s why shoppers’ demand for green products has caught the attention of local retailers. Products that once were obtainable only through specialty stores are now carried by some major nationwide office supply stores. This makes it easier for eco-conscious parents to avoid compromising their values with back-to-school purchases.</p> <p>Today’s eco-conscious kids will love it, because they know the score. Here are some things to keep in mind.</p> <h3>Paper</h3><p>The two prime environmental culprits in school supply materials are paper and plastic. The Worldwatch Institute reports that nearly 42 percent of the trees harvested in the world are used to make paper, often eliminating critical wildlife habitats in the process.</p><p>Recycled paper is now a readily available option. It preserves forests, reduces pollution from processing and reduces solid waste in landfills. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends buying paper with a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer content, but many office supply stores now carry a wide selection of 100 percent recycled paper products. A PCW symbol on the label indicates the paper is truly made from post-consumer waste and not just wood chips and mill scraps. Buying 100 percent PCW paper is a way of closing the loop of the recycling process.</p><p>Some fun, tree-free papers are now made from alternative fibers such as grasses, banana stalks, sugar cane, bamboo, seaweed and cotton. Because these alternatives cost more than everyday papers, they make a better choice for stationery and personalized note cards.</p> <h3>Pens & Pencils</h3><p>Pencils are now available in either recycled or FSC-certified wood. Forest Stewardship Council certification provides independent proof that the wood comes from a forest managed according to the most stringent practices for environmental responsibility, social benefit and long-term economic viability. Other environmentally friendly options for pencils include those made from recycled tires, T-shirts, newspaper or money.</p><p>Refillable pens and mechanical pencils are another option. Some are made from used car headlights, CDs and plastic shopping bags. It’s better to refill than landfill.</p><h3>Notebooks & Binders</h3><p>Plastic is used in the manufacture of many school supplies, including notebooks, binders, lunchboxes, pencil boxes, rulers, plastic-coated paperclips and scissors. Many of these items incorporate PVC plastic. From its manufacture to disposal, PVC emits toxic compounds.</p><p>More than 20 million tons of plastic end up in our landfills each year, where scientists estimate that it will take hundreds of years to degrade. The University of Missouri reports that new biodegradable plastics are being developed, although they’re not yet on the market.</p><p>Binders are now available that are made from cardboard and 100 percent recycled chipboard. After use, the binder cover and rings can be separated and recycled.</p> <h3>Backpacks</h3><p>Better backpacks are made from natural fiber or nylon, rather than PVC. Soft-sided fabric lunch packs are a good alternative to plastic. For other items, such as scissors, rulers and paper clips, choose items made from recycled plastic or metals.</p><p>The Center for Health, Environment & Justice has a <em>Back-To-School PVC-Free School Supply Guide</em> available on request by emailing them at <span class="link-mailto"><a href="mailto:chej@chej.org">chej@chej.org</a></span>, specifying the item in the subject line. Or, download a copy of the guide at <a href="http://TakeCareOfYourShare.com/pvcfree4school.pdf">TakeCareOfYourShare.com/pvcfree4school.pdf</a>.</p> <h3>Easy Access</h3><p>For eco-shopping convenience, most of the major office supply stores have done the homework for us, by creating their own line of environmentally safer products.</p><p>Staples, for example, lists nearly 3,000 products in its EcoEasy line; OfficeMax has some 1,700 environmentally preferred products; and Office Depot offers a new Buy Green storefront area, displaying products of “various shades of green.” Most school supplies, including recycled and sugar cane-based paper, recyclable binders and pens, pencils and even bulletin boards, made from recycled materials, will be available locally from one or more of these outlets. If these stores are too far out of the way for a fuel-efficient trip, calling first or shopping their online catalogs may help save fuel costs. However, remember to recycle all extra packaging that mail order produces.</p><p>Remember that the three Rs for going back to school start at home, as we reduce our current spending by reusing and recycling what we already have on hand. Children can make a game out of hunting down and collecting usable pens and pencils lying around the house. Get creative by dressing up an old, hand-me-down backpack for this year’s student, and add to the fun by having children swap their newly redecorated backpack with that of a close friend.</p><p>Moving children away from a throwaway mindset may be one of the most valuable environmental lessons you can teach them.</p> <p><br><em>Betsy Franz, a freelance writer in Melbourne, FL, specializes in environmental topics. Learn more at </em><span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.naturesdetails.net/"><em>www.NaturesDetails.net</em></a></span><em>.</em></p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:4a43fcda-a7b7-410f-8984-51f527e6dca12019-08-28T16:32:35-04:002019-08-28T16:32:35-04:00Green Lunchrooms: University Cafeterias Show How to Cut Waste2009-08-01 03:00:00 -0400Anonymous<p>Dozens of universities are doing away with lunch trays as a keystone in cutting cafeteria waste. A recent survey of 25 schools by Aramark, a food-service provider for some 600 institutions of higher education, found that trayless dining reduced food waste by an average of 25 to 30 percent per person. Seventy-five percent of the 92,000 students surveyed at 300 colleges said they were in favor of the change. Accompanying changes typically include the recycling and composting of food waste and using eco-friendly serviceware.</p><p>A separate study by the University of Illinois, which serves 1,300 students a day, noticed a 40 percent reduction in food waste. Kristen Ruby, an assistant director, explains that because students couldn’t carry as much, they didn’t take more than they could eat. “Not having trays [also] saves 516 gallons of water a day,” says Ruby, who counts the consequent dishwashing detergent saved in an academic year at 473 pounds less.</p><p>The same principles apply to food operations in businesses, convention centers, sports arenas, entertainment venues, government agencies, correctional institutions and assisted living facilities.</p><p><br><em>Source: </em>The Christian Science Monitor</p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:9983be78-896f-4aad-acbf-e26170acdd132019-08-28T16:30:06-04:002019-08-28T16:30:06-04:00Vacation Biking: Rent Any Type of Bike Onsite Online2009-07-01 03:00:00 -0400Anonymous<p>Coast-to-coast, independent bicycle dealers in 144 cities now make it easy to hook up with everyone’s bicycle of choice by the hour, day, week or month. Reserve anything from a comfort or recumbent bike to a road, mountain or kid’s bike at RentaBikeNow.com. Trailers and accessories can be specified right along with destination and travel dates, like with booking a hotel or car. Route information, too, is available at a click of the mouse.</p><p>The new service addresses three critical issues making headlines these days: environment, gas prices and health awareness, notes company President and Founder George Gill.</p><p>Connect with a convenient bike shop at <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.rentabikenow.com/">www.RentaBikeNow.com</a></span>, a division of Go. Play. Everywhere. LLC.</p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:7da4de25-ffbb-4301-85c9-1275ed11da632019-08-28T16:30:11-04:002019-08-28T16:30:11-04:00Honeybee Rescue: The Gentle Art of Small-Scale Beekeeping2009-07-01 03:00:00 -0400N’ann Harp<p>When early colonists first sailed to the New World in the 1620s, they brought along their cherished European honey bees, introducing Apis mellifera to the North American continent. Here, while sowing the seeds of statehood, our pioneer forebears continued to practice the customs of rural England, where honey bees had long been treated as family members. “Telling the bees” about births, marriages and deaths and including them in special occasions was part of the fabric of family life.</p><p>Today, small-scale, organic beekeeping is making a timely comeback, with renewed interest in and respect for these lost arts from a simpler time.</p><p>“I knew nothing about beekeeping four years ago,” says Ronald Weisburg, owner of Lee Bees, in North Fort Myers, Florida, who credits his wife Cindy, a Master Gardener, with launching the retirees into their latest occupation. The pair now enthusiastically tend 23 hives and Ron is two years into the master beekeeper program at his local Cooperative Extension.</p><p>Humans share with honey bees an ancient, intimate and symbiotic relationship of mutual benefit. Although the fossil records indicate that honey bees were thriving on the planet for an estimated 70 million years prior to the appearance of man, human beings and these highly-evolved social insects quickly developed an enduring affinity for each other.</p><p>Our interconnectedness goes back at least 10,000 years, when humans began to record their honey-hunting activities in charcoal and chalk pictographs on cave walls. Honey was a valuable food source for our ancestors and they collected it avidly.</p><p>As the hunter-gatherer societies settled into self-sustaining family groups, small garden plots became a familiar center of agriculture and social stability. Honey bees adapted to the increasingly organized agricultural system, attracted to the flowering fruit and vegetable <img src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/626836/Honeybee-Rescue-Colony.jpg" alt="">crops that sustained their own hive and honey production needs. In return, the bees enhanced pollination and increased harvest yields for their human partners. </p><p>Over the intervening millennia, this interspecies friendship has evolved into the practices of modern beekeeping, generating dozens of crop-specific industries. Roughly 100 of the world’s favorite food crops are now directly reliant upon honeybee pollination, which translates to about 40 percent of the human diet. </p><p>Today, however, the very capacity for cross-species cooperation that gave rise to the human-honeybee relationship has also given rise to a host of unintended consequences, including a phenomenon dubbed Colony Collapse Disorder, in which resident honey bees simply vanish from hives.</p><p>Something is seriously wrong and scientists are stumped. Some observers call the situation the “perfect storm” of circumstances, which includes the proliferation of pesticide and chemical use in mono-crop production; poor queen breeding practices; loss of genetic diversity; immune system weaknesses; global trade expansion, introducing alien pests against which local bees haven’t had time to develop resistance; mystery viruses; and the usual pests, threats and challenges of sustaining healthy, resilient colonies that can produce strong queen bees. </p><p>Hope for saving the world’s hardest-working pollinator may lie in finding ways to dramatically increase honeybee research funding, which is being decreased in some states, due to budget cuts. </p><p>The nonprofit Friends of Honeybees Foundation has been established as a conduit for honey bee research funds. Some companies, like Häagen-Dazs, have also set up donation sites.</p><p><img src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/626837/Honeybee-Rescue-Bee-Keeper.jpg" alt="">A powerfully positive alternative action, encouraged by under-funded researchers, is for private individuals to take up small-scale beekeeping. </p><p>“An army of amateur beekeepers could become part of an eventual solution by helping to collect field data in a wide array of microclimates and conditions,” suggests David Tarpy, Ph.D., the state apiculturist and an associate professor of entomology at North Carolina State University.</p><p>Renewed popularity of the English garden hive structure harkens back to times when women were often the mistresses responsible for family hives. Readily available in easily assembled kits from beekeeping catalogs, this lighter hive holds fewer frames than heavier, commercial hives. It is often sold with a gabled, copper-roof section or adorned with finials, making it a delightful visual addition to a bee-friendly backyard or rooftop urban garden.</p><p>State-funded cooperative extension programs across the country have the scoop on beekeeping and honey production, providing free information and regular classes. The largest bee school in the United States, in Asheville, North Carolina, last year hosted 300 students for a multi-weekend program and turned away dozens, due to lack of space. Remarks Tarpy, “These are encouraging signs that many are answering the call.”</p> <p>For information and to locate a local beekeeping association or club, visit <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.friendsofhoneybees.org/resources.html">www.FriendsOfHoneybees.org/resources.html</a></span>. Secure a garden hive from <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/">www.BrushyMountainBeeFarm.com</a></span>.</p> <p>Connect with Lee Bees in North Fort Myers, FL, at 239-656-0781 or <span class="link-mailto"><a href="mailto:BeeVoyager@comcast.net">BeeVoyager@comcast.net</a></span>.</p> <p><br><em>N’ann Harp is a beekeeping activist, freelance writer and founder of Friends of Honeybees, living in Asheville, NC. Contact her at</em> <span class="link-mailto"><a href="mailto:Nann@FriendsOfHoneybees.org">Nann@FriendsOfHoneybees.org</a></span> or <span class="link-mailto"><a href="mailto:info@TheSpicewoodFarm.com">info@TheSpicewoodFarm.com</a></span>.</p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>