Organic gardening delivered to your door

Since it's becoming obvious that I will not find my way to the farmers market anytime soon, I signed up for this today. The first delivery comes next week. We'll see how I like it, or if it's worth it.

westsideorganics.com

stop Junk Mail

Web sites such as GreenDimes.com and 41pounds.org can remove your name from direct mail advertisers’ lists for a fee ($36 for one year; $41 for five years, respectively). Less pricey alternatives and a few simple tips also can significantly reduce the amount of junk mail sent to your home.

DirectMail.com compiles a list of people who indicate that they don’t want to receive advertisements in the mail. Registration for the list is free, and the Web site then supplies the list to mass mailers, which can choose to check it with their mailing lists and remove names that appear on both.


For a $1 processing fee, the Direct Marketing Association can add your name to its “do not mail” list. The DMA requires its more than 3,600 member companies to match their marketing lists with the “do not mail” list. You will see junk mail decrease about three months after your name gets on the list, which is updated four times a year.

Both services assure that they do not pass along your name or address to any mailing lists. Both work only for home addresses, not business addresses. Neither can guarantee a complete stop to junk mail, and be aware that registering for either list can also prevent you from receiving mail you might want, such as coupons, catalogues, and mail from nonprofit and charitable organizations.

To specifically stop credit card and insurance offers, call (888) 5-OPTOUT [(888) 567-8688] or register at optoutprescreen.com, which removes your name from major credit agencies’ marketing lists for five years, or permanently if you complete a mail-in form.
Don’t be afraid to sign up for things you want. If you’re concerned that your name and address will be added to other mailing lists, write a variation of “please do not sell or trade my name or address” next to your information when making a donation, placing an order, or filling out a form for a warranty, subscription or even for a drawing. That way you’ll get what you want, but nothing more.
When you receive an unwanted solicitation from a specific company, call its toll-free number to directly request removal from its mailing list. Businesses should be accommodating because sending mail only to interested customers saves them money. If you want to minimize the amount of mail you receive from charities you support, ask them to only mail materials to you once a year or under special circumstances. Then reward them by donating when you’re ready.

excerpt from Mother Earth News Article

green auto blog

http://www.autobloggreen.com/

links

http://www.splendora.com/hautenow/ecostyle/greenlinks
http://www.ecosherpa.com/gardening/terracycle-challenge/
http://100milediet.org/
http://www.lime.com/
http://www.hugg.com/
http://sustainablestyle.freepledge.com/

Reusable Bags

It's very trendy and very good practice to use reusable bags for shopping instead of all the plastic ones they end up giving you at the grocery store...but I'm not sure that it's better to buy one, there are so many bags out there, go to the thrift store and get a giant tote bag there...or better yet, use that one they gave you at the last conference you went to. But if your bag must be trendy and new, go here:

http://www.reusablebags.com/

These Come from trees stickers

get some and put them everywhere there are products made from trees.

http://thesecomefromtrees.blogspot.com/

recycle your packing peanuts!

http://www.loosefillpackaging.com/pages/hotline.htm

this place is based out of Oakland, CA but there are only 3 places listed for Oakland, and none listed in Berkeley(supposed capital of recycling). It seems like they need a little more work...

update: apparently, mailboxes etc takes your packing peanuts for re-use (what wouldn't they right? free materials for them...), thanks Jamie!

Cleaning green

from treehugger.com
and article on greener cleaning

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/how_to_green_your_cleaning.php



and a list of products

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/how_to_green_your_cleaning.php#getit

build a cart for your bike

need to tow around some stuff with your bike, but don't have a cart? build one!

http://www.motherearthliving.com/issues/motherearthliving/diy/DIY-Bike-Trailer_443-1.html

River Wired

Live Green. Do Good. Be well. is the catch phrase for Riverwired. sign up for your own account and network. This is a beta version, I have not found it to be a useful site yet, but will update this post if I find differently.

http://www.riverwired.com/

Shopping...

most of the clothing from NAU is from 100% organic cotton grown in Thailand.

I wonder how it got to the US though? I'm sure that wasn't a eco-friendly process.

https://www.nau.com/homepage/index.jsp?cid=[email]_[idealbite]_[naulink]#/homepage/index&0

UK Eco blog

http://www.ecostreet.com/

greening your kitchen

http://www.chow.com/stories/10542

hmmm cork flooring, isn't that on the "don't use if you want to be green" list?

Green Museum

online museum of environmental art

http://greenmuseum.org/

Home made fly/yellowjacket traps

Organic Home Made Fly Traps
Posted by: "genny_y2k"
Wed May 16, 2007 10:01 am (PST)
Make your own orgnic fly traps using a funnel bought or made from heavy brown paper bag. Any size jar that the funnel will fit into. In the bottom of the jar place any combination of over ripe fruit and yeast. Banana's work great. You can also use spoiled meat as a bait.Flies get trapped in the jar and can't find their way out of the small opening of the funnel.++++++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ ++++==Make organic sticky fly trap strips by cutting a strip of brown paper bag and coating it with molassas or an inexpensive syrup. Hang or place a distance from patios, yards or corrals so you attract flies 'away' from these areas.Deanna in Colorado

Re: Organic Home Made Fly Traps
Posted by: "Katie M"
Wed May 16, 2007 10:15 am (PST)
This type of fly trap will also draw and trap yellow jackets. You can also make them out of liter size soda bottles. You cut arount it 2/3 of the way up and invert the top into the bottom. Katie

Design Can Change

this site is way more design-y then it is change-y but it's got a few good resources.

http://designcanchange.org/#resources/downloads

Consumption

bottles

art to make you think...

http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=7

Carpooling

Today I carpooled in with Jim. I'm going to try to do it all week. I'm low on cash this week, so it's motivating me a bit. I think if Jim and I got in the habit of carpooling together, we could save a lot of moolah. plus, ya know.. it's good for the environment and all ;-)

back woods home magazine

http://www.backwoodshome.com/

maybe green, but probably not all that much

I'm not sure how green these good are... neckaces from a rare palm nut, and an encourgaement to get off the computer and write hand-written notes? hmmm...

http://www.greatgreengoods.com/

fabulous Eco prodcuts

sustainable. sexy. Stuff. for more shopping pleasure:
http://www.ecofabulous.com/

go green stay stylish is the motto of this shopping site
http://www.greenwithglamour.com/

Ripple.org

A site that lets you contribute to some austrailian non-profits simply by clicking or using their search engine.

http://www.ripple.org/

shopping green?

this ecostyle section of Splendora is sponsored by Aveeno, are they known for being green?
http://www.splendora.com/hautenow/ecostyle


I love the graphic design used on this site...they also offer hemp and other sustainable fabrics http://www.stewartbrown.com/index.php

Googling economically

If you are still using a CRT monitor, here's a way to save some energy while you surf...

Back in January 2007 someone from Treehugger.com posted a blog that said if google search changed it's background to white - it could potentially save a ton of energy because it take less to show a black screen then an all white screen.

Well, google just launched the search window http://www.blackle.com/ check it out, and if you use google to search, try this out instead and save some watts.

Full story....
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/black_google_sa.php

(taken from an email from Jamie W)

Recycled Aluminum Foil

http://store.greenfeet.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=6008-00008-0000

used building material

http://www.build.recycle.net/

Veggie Van

Converting your diesel auto to run on Vegitable oil
http://www.veggievan.org/

also:

http://www.biodieselamerica.org/

Local Harvest

Know where your food comes from and who's growing it! Find local farms and food suppliers here:

http://www.localharvest.org/

soda can solar

I love that this came from an automotive blog as a way to keep your cars warm in the winter!

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/04/26/almost-free-garage-heat-just-drink-a-lot-of-soda/

OTHER LINKS TO SELF-MADE SOLAR HEATERS:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Alternative-Energy/2006-12-01/Build-a-Simple-Solar-Heater.aspx

http://www.instructables.com/id/EMU06ULZ1MEY95WRNU/