Do you feel for the silk worms?

If you think raising and killing silk worms so we can have the luxurious and durable fabric that is silk, you now have an option. Ahimsa Peace Silk makes Mufflers, Scarves, and Shawls from the cocoons of silkworms that have already left their cocoons.

Their stuff is available through Organic Avenue

http://www.organicavenue.com/products/product_info.php?products_id=2892

Lifekind Products

I guess I'm officially on the Organic Lifestyle mailing list...I got a catalog in the mail on Friday from Lifekind - Organic and Naturally SaferTM Products & Catalog with Hazardous Ingredients Glossary.

It's full of things like Organic Bed Linens, Natural Rubber Pillows, Mattresses, Hepa filters, Naturally Safer Cleaning and lundry products, Organic Baby products, Water Declorinators, and much more.



I'd like to buy the Natural Rubber hide-A-Bed Mattress, for my vintage sofa bed but it's a little pricey at $1,095.

www.lifekind.com

Carnival of Green Living

http://www.21st-century-citizen.com/2007/09/05/carnival-of-green-living-04/

Recycling your Christmas tree

If you don't have curbside pick-up and don't know where to bring your tree, check this site out. http://www.christmastree.org/recycle_program.cfm

Vegetable Garden Planning

I'm trying to figure out what to try this spring as far as vegetables go. Last year I tried zucchini, cucumbers, butternut squash, watermelon, tomatoes, spinach, carrots, lettuce, and radishes. All pretty much failed, mostly because I used containers that were too small. but I think I figured out what I did wrong for each of them, so I'll probably try again.

Last year I also purchased a lot of my veggies already started, but after experimenting with seeds in the late summer/early fall, I think I will try all the veggies from seed.

This winter I'm attempting to break up the compacted clay soil and add nutrients with a patch of fava beans. In the spring, I will either build a raised bed over the same spot, or just plant directly in the ground.

save an ocean creatures - get a cookie cutter

https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/209/t/3790/content.jsp?content_KEY=3357&tag=keyed_in/

Bay-Friendly Landscaping & Gardening Conference

Berkeley, CA Feb 29 $75

http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=787

if you live in L.A., check out TreePeople

They host warm-weather full moon hikes, reuseable bag programs, and will take the extra fruit from your tree to feed the needy.

http://www.treepeople.org

Guilt-free Diamonds

Certified conflict-free diamonds from the Canadian Arctic
Fair labor and eco-friendly practices
5% of profits donated to help local African communities

http://www.brilliantearth.com/

Make your own microwave popcorn

microwave popcorn:
1/2-cup unpopped popcorn
2-3 tbsp melted butter
Salt to taste
1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)
Paper lunch bag
Large bowlDirections
Pour the popcorn in the paper bag and fold the top of the bag twice, so it's closed.
Put the bag in the microwave and cook on high for 2-3 min, or 'til the pops are 5 sec apart.
Take the bag out and pour the popcorn into a bowl and drizzle it with butter, then toss it with salt and nutritional yeast, as desired.

info from Ideal Bite

CFL's vs. LED's

A video explanation of CFL's vs. LED - very scientific

http://www.21st-century-citizen.com/2007/09/13/youtube-video-compare-led-lights-and-cfl-light-bulbs-energy-savings/

Local Christmas tree farms

keep the impact of your tree to a minumum.

http://www.greenpromise.com/resources/organic-christmas-trees.php

Paper Log maker

Smash your newspapers into logs for your fireplace. This neat tool is only $30 and provides you a handy way of getting rid of your newspapers and providing a warm fire at the same time.

http://www.taylorgifts.com/prodetail~itemNo~27931.asp

Global Green

http://www.globalgreen.org/sf/

$0.00 9/10 per gallon

A movement to encourage transportation using non-petroleum sources.

http://zeropergallon.com/

Greening up your snowboarding trip

First off don't meet your buddy up there, carpool! or better yet, go on a ski bus!

Second, if you need a new board, buy a used one, or if you must buy new, try one of these arbor board made of sustainable woods:http://www.backcountry.com/store/subcat/49/c/b100000000/Arbor-Snowboards.html

Third, Use a non- petroleum based wax such as this Terra Nova universal ski wax from Ethica:

http://www.hillbillywaxworks.com/ethica/Products.cfm?ID=3

Get a tote...

From method cleaning products with any $20 purchase of Method products until Dec 31, 2007.

http://givegreener.com/

Music & Green Living Blog

There's a great resource secction for musicians where you can find sustainable instruments, CD packaging, etc... http://green.jambase.com/2007/05/getting-to-know-your-guitar-interview.html/

Solar Roasted Coffee Beans

http://www.solarroast.com/