joe said:
"As dumb as it gets.
Instead of promoting the environment they are trying to promote the Fraud King Oumgabama.
Really Really Stupid.</..." [read]
grant said:
"Hum, interesting that they used a helicopter to film this stunt that comments on global warming. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty confident ..." [read]
scott said:
"I sure am glad we gave $14 trillion dollars to bankers instead of using it to subsidize products like these.
Products that liberate rather..." [read]
said:
""And it is green because/"
Because bikes are pretty much the greenest mean of transportation ever devised. And well designed bikes are just..." [read]
Cancerman72 said:
"Hmmmm....I live in Toronto and I have never seen a sign like that....lol..." [read]
Cancerman72 said:
"I do but I understand why some hate cyclist biking through there walking paths and sometimes tearing up the path with their bikes...." [read]
The other week I was sitting in a medical waiting room reading, as you do, a copy of Reader Digest. There was an intriguing article about Jackie Heinricher, her Booshoot company, and the plan to bring large scale bamboo cultivation to North America. At the time I thought I should follow up on that story.
So I was very surprised to come home and find in my email inbox a missive regarding outdoor sock company Bridgedale’s connection with Booshoot and their Plant A Boo campaign. It seems once upon a time the US had 5 million acres of bamboo under crop. The Plant A Boo project is looking to reinvigorate this swift growing grass as a domestically available resource for furniture, flooring and textiles.
20,000 honeybees released: great news, but why such big news?
Anyone who has spent time campaigning on environmental issues will know that it can be hard to get the general public engaged with the plight of an endangered species, or worried about pollution. We all lead busy lives, and sometimes the environment plays second fiddle to economics, politics or even TV reality shows when it comes to public attention. So what is it about honeybees that has so strongly captured our collective imagination?
Looking for green beauty products can be a nightmare. Some so-called "green" products are about as eco-friendly as bottled water, and many products that are great for the environment just don't stand up to our hectic lives (particularly in the sweltering summer months). Wouldn't it be lovely if a store just did all the filtering and testing for us?
Enter GreenBeauty.ca, a new online retailer that specializes in environmentally friendly, healthy beauty products—and, we're happy to report, they ship to the United States.
Neighbors Come Together for Gardening and Free Produce
Growing your own veggies is great. But the process can be intimidating and time consuming. That's why it's so important to help newbies learn new skills and meet like-minded, experienced gardeners. Whether it's instant veggie gardens by mail or Australian Permablitz's collaborative urban permaculture gardens, a little community can go a long way. In Bristol, England, (my old home town) an award-winning scheme is helping neighbors come together to create beautiful backyard spaces, to share skills, labor and homegrown produce, and to make new friends in the process. Click below the fold to see an expiring example of how much can be achieved in a matter of hours when neighbors pool their resources.
Mayor Newsom Speaks Out on Nation's First Mandatory Composting Law
I love compost - I really do. I'm hard pushed to think of one single practice that does more for the planet. From sequestering carbon to preventing methane emissions to reducing landfill waste to promoting soil fertility - it's insane that composting is not more widespread. As Brian noted the other day in his post on San Francisco's new recycling laws, the city, which is already famous for its city-wide collection of organic waste, is taking a step further. Mayor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation that makes composting of food waste compulsory for all residents and businesses. In a blog post over at Greenopolis, Mayor Newsom sets out the thinking behind the new mandatory composting legislation.
Studies have shown that hospital patients make a speedier recovery when they have a exposure to living vegetation, like trees and flowers. And certainly great metropoli are made even more liveable by their extensive parks and gardens. Now it seems that plants can also deter burglars. Sort of.
Suginami, a district of Tokyo, Japan experienced over 1,700 break-ins in 2002. By 2008 this had dropped by about 80%, down to a mere 390 thefts. This dramatic change is attributed, in part, to Operation Flower, according to a Reuters report.
Open Garden Squares Weekend is the annual chance to see 190 gardens that are rarely open to the public. Given the popularity of allotment gardens, we took the opportunity to visit a very famous one: the allotment worked on by staff at the Observer and Guardian newspaper. This has to be one of the few allotments that is run by a newspaper. Having seen so many photos and read about it so often, we had to see the real thing.
We weren't disappointed; it is a delight, packed to the edges with vegetables, herbs, red stemmed swiss chard, potatoes, a useless owl to keep away the birds and some flowers too. As an extra plus, sitting in regal splendour was the Editor of the Observer Magazine, Alan Jenkins, who was having a drink and holding forth on the joys of allotments and the politics of keeping them going.
photo: Sustainable Harvest
As you sink your teeth into that decadent chunk of bitterly dark, Fair Trade chocolate, you can’t help but thank the chocolate gods that such an indulgent treat was ever invented. And now you can take your thanks straight to the source. Sustainable Harvest Chocolate Tours allow you to see where your Fair Trade, organic chocolate comes from and how this incredibly important industry helps the communities it serves.
...
Image from the Telegraph
Allotment gardens are the new new--everyone wants one. And why not--the word is out that growing your own vegetables is healthier, cheaper and more delicious. Michele Obama has one, and now Queen Elizabeth, always a frugal woman, has her own on the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
In a move reminiscent of the Victory Gardens during the War, an organic vegetable patch 10 X 8 yards has been created where a whole range of vegetables are being grown. These include runner beans, sweetcorn, beets, carrots and an endangered species of climbing French beans called Blue Queen.
...
Terra Preta According to Green Power Science
Yesterday I posted on Green Power Science's DIY Vertical Axis Wind Turbine video. But that's not all that Dan and Denise Rojas have been up to. In the video above they take on one of the buzz words of the sustainability movement - terra preta. As discussed in Tim's post on biochar last year - terra preta is a term used to describe the rich, dark soils of the Amazon basin that were enriched with charcoal, organic matter and other amendments. Of course the topic is not without controversy. ...
Image credit: Woolly Pocket Garden CompanyRecycled Plastic Holders Make Easy Instant Gardens
"No woolly mammoths were harmed in the making of your Woolly Pockets," boasts the website of the Woolly Pocket Garden Company. Instead, these breathable, flexible and modular planters are made from recycled plastic bottles and can be either wall mounted or placed directly on the ground. Click below the fold for more details on how to create your own living wall, and some of the best product photography I've seen in a long time. ...
Green Roof on Canada's MEC building. Photo via Flickr: by PardraicGreen roofs have expanded by 35 percent over the last couple years, with more than 3.1 million square feet installed last year. Chicago leads the way in the U.S. with 534,507 square feet worth. That doesn’t seem like a lot considering green roofs are about to be law in Toronto, but it all starts adding up. Washington, D.C. comes in a close second with just over half-million square feet and New York follows with 359,000-square-feet of green roofing. So where’s your pea patch?
...
In gardening, as in other areas, people are returning to traditional, solid, well-built tools that will last and be a thing of joy to use. For example, a father and son, John Henry Rudd and his son Graeme, are the last commercial rake makers in Britain. Instead of buying a cheap rake that will fall apart in a season, gardeners are snapping up their hay rake that will last 30 years.
Now they are making almost 1,000 rakes a month at their workshop. Its design hasn't changed: “It’s been tried and tested for well over a hundred years, so it can’t be far wrong”, John explains. I don’t think someone’s going to invent something better than a wooden hay rake, really", agrees Graeme. “I think it would’ve been done by now”.
...
Image from english-country-garden.com
The cowslip is a lowly and lovely wildflower that grows in pastures in the English countryside. The primula (veris) had disappeared from the fields due to intensive farming. Farmers were clearing fields to increase the number of cattle that they could graze.
As a result, only 3% of the wildflowers' natural habitat has survived. But now farmers are grazing fewer animals and that means less intensive eating and longer grasses. So the traditional wildflowers are having a come-back. ...
photo: Wow Green Inc
More and more green cleaning products are jumping onto the market, so there's really no excuse for using toxic cleaners. Wow Green's new line of powerful green products are just one example, but these products are different because they are made from enzymes that literally eat stains. ...
High-Tech Greenhouses See 20-Fold Increase in Yields
Adam Stein of Terrapass was famously skeptical about vertical farms, describing them as "pie in the sky". So I was surprised to read one of his latest blog posts, in which he links to an LA Times article about high-tech California greenhouses that are employing vertical farming techniques, and boosting crop yields per acre by a factor of 20. Could it be that Adam was wrong about vertical farming? ...
The Chelsea Flower Show is so big and so glorious that it can accommodate some silliness within its midst without losing its dignity. This year's absurdity, and controversy, was easily supplied by one of the infamous stars of Top Gear, James May. Top Gear glorifies fast cars and the car culture and is proudly anti-environmental.
Usually fake flowers are banned at the Show, but its star wanted to create a plasticine garden featuring plasticine cars but that was a step too far for the organisers and he was told to do flowers. And so he has. It smells like a birthday party, insects are attracted to it and May admits he is "rubbish at design". And that sums it up. ...
The Chelsea Flower Show has a slight recession theme this year; with fewer gardens and more wild and natural plantings incorporated into the designs. Of course there will always be the over-the-top displays--garden porn--as it is known because everyone has their voyeuristic side.
But there is also a lot of creativity and ingenuity being shown. The Ace of Spades is a biker's garden. Despite its not-very-TreeHugger-theme, it incorporates all kinds of recycled bike parts, oil drums, old tires and other motorcycle gear in a charming way. ...
The Chelsea Garden Show, now in its 86th year, is a high point in the horticultural social scene, with the Queen and all sorts of celebrities attending on Opening Day. But amidst the glitter and glamour of the fabulous show gardens, there is a fascinating and stunning social experiment.
The Key is a major garden developed through a collaboration between a government agency working with the homeless, prisoners and the Eden Project. It more than holds its own amongst the glitzy show gardens surrounding it. ...
The Chelsea Flower Show is the queen of all flower shows: the biggest, brightest and best gardens, designers and plants. But this year's show is reflecting the economy: there are fewer big show gardens, some sponsors have pulled out and ticket sales are down.
The poster girl for the new economy is Sarah Eberle. Her series of 3 "credit crunch" gardens is made from materials found in scrap yards and garbage dumps using pretty common plants which she had to "beg,borrow or steal." Total cost is £15,000--which is peanuts for a garden at Chelsea....
The word quarantine certainly sends shivers down my spine especially after all this talk of swine flu. Even though this quarantine was directed at plants it’s no joke. According to the Post and Courier, last week plant disease inspectors started going door to door in downtown Charleston, looking at backyard orange and lemon trees for signs of a disease that could wipe out the nation's citrus crop if it gets out of the city.
...
Image credit: Chelsea Bay WillsUK's Bee Keepers Hit by Increased Theft
As you can tell from the photo - I'm a big fan of bees. I've written before about my own experiences of installing a bee hive, and I was super excited to hear that the Obamas are taking up beekeeping. But these are troubled times for beekeepers. As if disease, climate change and the mysterious Colony Collapse Disorder were not enough, UK beekeepers are now being hit by organized criminals. The idea of thieves sneaking off with boxes full of thousands of stinging insects is somewhat comical at first, but the economic consequences are potentially devastating for an industry that is already in trouble... ...
Lavender pillows help to promote relaxation.
Last week I did my usual segment, Living Green with Sara Snow, on CNN.com/LIVE. I answered viewer questions about herbal remedies for common ailments like stress and asthma. Reducing stress naturally is a great topic and one that I figured merited some additional attention.
The question, as it came in, made reference to the fact that the inquirer had played around with taking pharmaceuticals for her stress and anxiety in the past, but was disheartened (or stressed!) by all of the potential side effects listed…for which she was afraid she’d just have to take more meds. A slippery slope for certain.
...
18 Gorgeous Plants that Combine Beauty and Taste
It's that time of year when garden centers are full, and you just can't seem to squeeze enough hours out of the day to get your yard done. With budgets tightening, many folks are considering growing food instead of just pretty flowers. But fear not - just because a plant is edible, it doesn't have to be ugly. In fact, with a little thought you can create a beautiful, edible landscape that feeds all your sense. Take a look at some of our favorite edibles.
...
Photo courtesy of Jurlique.
We are all familiar with the words “organic” ingredients and “all natural” ingredients when referring to beauty products, but it’s very rare to see “biodynamic” in the mix. But that’s exactly what Australian company, Jurlique, focuses on: biodynamic beauty that delivers dynamic results.
For over 20 years, Jurlique has been a pioneer in the “farm to bottle” process – growing, processing and formulating pure, potent extracts directly from their own self-sustaining biodynamic farm in South Australia. From herbs to flowers, we found that Jurlique’s targeted skincare products restored and rebalanced our skin effortlessly....
photo credits: Kelly Rossiter
A number of years ago I was walking home on a warm spring evening and I kept hearing rustling. When I got to the front of my house the noise was quite loud, so I stood for a few minutes looking into my garden to see what was making the noise. Insects, mice? Turned out, much to my surprise, that I was hearing the bulbs breaking through the earth and moving the dead leaves that were lying on top of them.
...
Gardening is a hot topic now with news about it everywhere: allotments, grow your own, vegetable patches, apartment and balcony gardens, containers, and victory gardens. It's great but the truth is it can also get quite expensive.
Here are some tips to keep the spending down while still enjoying the thrill of seeing little shoots popping up from your careful tending. After the fold: four ways to cut costs....
We'll be working on better category archives soon. In the meantime, take a look at the weekly archive if you really want to dig around, or use the search box at the top of the page.
on 07. 3.09
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photo: 
Image from the Telegraph
Allotment gardens are the new new--everyone wants one. And why not--the word is out that growing your own vegetables is healthier, cheaper and more delicious. 
Image credit: 
Green Roof on Canada's MEC building. Photo via Flickr: by 
Image from english-country-garden.com
The cowslip is a lowly and lovely wildflower that grows in pastures in the English countryside. The primula (veris) had disappeared from the fields due to intensive farming. Farmers were clearing fields to increase the number of cattle that they could graze.
As a result, only 3% of the wildflowers' natural habitat has survived. But now farmers are grazing fewer animals and that means less intensive eating and longer grasses. So the traditional wildflowers are having a come-back. ...
photo: 
High-Tech Greenhouses See 20-Fold Increase in Yields
Adam Stein of Terrapass was famously 
The Chelsea Flower Show is so big and so glorious that it can accommodate some silliness within its midst without losing its dignity. This year's absurdity, and 
The Chelsea Flower Show has a slight recession theme this year; with fewer gardens and more wild and natural plantings incorporated into the designs. Of course there will always be the over-the-top displays--garden porn--as it is known because everyone has their voyeuristic side.
But there is also a lot of creativity and ingenuity being shown. The 
The Chelsea Garden Show, now in its 86th year, is a high point in the horticultural social scene, with the Queen and all sorts of celebrities attending on 
The Chelsea Flower Show is the queen of all flower shows: the biggest, brightest and best gardens, designers and plants. But this year's show is reflecting the economy: there are fewer big show gardens, some sponsors have pulled out and ticket sales are down.
The poster girl for the new economy is Sarah Eberle. Her series of 3 "credit crunch" gardens is made from materials found in scrap yards and garbage dumps using pretty common plants which she had to "beg,borrow or steal." Total cost is £15,000--which is peanuts for a garden at Chelsea....
The word quarantine certainly sends shivers down my spine especially after all this talk of swine flu. Even though this quarantine was directed at plants it’s no joke. 
Image credit: Chelsea Bay Wills
UK's Bee Keepers Hit by Increased Theft
As you can tell from the photo - I'm a big fan of bees. I've written before about my own experiences of 
Lavender pillows help to promote relaxation.
Last week I did my usual segment, 
18 Gorgeous Plants that Combine Beauty and Taste
It's that time of year when garden centers are full, and you just can't seem to squeeze enough hours out of the day to get your yard done. With budgets tightening, many folks are considering growing food instead of just pretty flowers. But fear not - just because a plant is edible, it doesn't have to be ugly. In fact, with a little thought you can create a beautiful, edible landscape that feeds all your sense. Take a look at some of our favorite edibles.
Photo courtesy of 
photo credits: Kelly Rossiter
A number of years ago I was walking home on a warm spring evening and I kept hearing rustling. When I got to the front of my house the noise was quite loud, so I stood for a few minutes looking into my garden to see what was making the noise. Insects, mice? Turned out, much to my surprise, that I was hearing the bulbs breaking through the earth and moving the dead leaves that were lying on top of them.
...
Gardening is a hot topic now with news about it everywhere: 
