Archive for March, 2011
« Previous EntriesFilm Trailer: The Economics of Happiness
Thursday, March 31st, 2011I just watched the tailer for a new documentary with an interesting take on measuring the true wealth of nations: “The Economics of Happiness” Since 1956, the number of Americans who state that they are happy with their lives has gone steadily downhill. So, despite the SUVs, despite the flat-panel TVs, despite convenience foods and [...]
Upsides of professional development
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011I’ve been really swamped this week with my day job and home obligations, and then on top of it all, my professional engineering license is up for renewal at the end of this month and I still have to get a few more professional development hours taken care of! (If you’re not into the whole [...]
March Bikety-Bike Links
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011New York deputy mayor: Bike lanes pretty cool, probably not terrorism London gets a bikeshare! Pedaling away from the health care crisis Cycloclean: Pedal Your Way to Clean, Drinkable Water How bicycling will save the economy (if we let it) Rage Against Your Machine How to Build Bike Lanes So Cyclists Don’t Get “doored” (Video) [...]
Little Soaps
Monday, March 28th, 2011I didn’t take a photo of this, and I’m kicking myself now! But I was away this weekend and we stayed at a lovely bed and breakfast, and the owner had tiny individual soaps prepared by a local soap maker, and wrapped in a paper sleeve out in the bathroom. It was a small piece [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Vacation in your back yard!
Saturday, March 26th, 2011If you’re aching for a vacation, instead of saving up for a mega trip to an exotic location, instead try vacationing in your back yard! This could be literal - a staycation with a tent out back, or maybe range a little farther and put a tent in a friends yard. Or choose a small [...]
Happy Eco-News Fridays!
Friday, March 25th, 20117 of the Funniest Green Commercials Ever Aired Actor/activist Mark Ruffalo will follow you on Twitter if you donate to Japan relief Weekday Vegetarian: Onion Galette All of Existence Should Be Revered: Hinduism & The Environment Urban Gardens, Farms, Bees and Chickens are All Growing Community (Video) Eco-Products from the Town of Spoon Makers in [...]
Living With Ants
Thursday, March 24th, 2011What with the hint of Springtime in the air, all kinds of fantastic things are happening: reverse migration of flying beasties, longer days, the beginning of flowering on growing things, and happier dispositions all around. Not necessarily fantastic but still interesting seasonal things are happening as well, such as the line of ants which are [...]
Tiny Footprint Coffee Giveaway
Thursday, March 24th, 2011Today’s the last day to enter the giveaway for a pound of Tiny Footprint organic carbon-negative coffee- leave a comment for your chance to win!
What’s the deal with Carob, anyway?
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011I was thinking over the weekend: what’s the deal with carob? If you ask anyone what the quintessential hippie-slash-treehugger food is, the answer is probably going to be CAROB. Just check the comments on Jenn’s post where she divulged that her parents owned a natural food store! Carob is featured heavily in that discussion. When [...]
Girl Scout Cookies & Orangutans
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead I briefly mentioned this fantastic story in a Happy Eco-News Friday post, but it warrants way more attention than that, because these two 15-year old Girl Scouts are my [...]
Retiring a Dish Soap Bottle
Monday, March 21st, 2011It’s been a long time, but I think it’s finally time to retire one of our well-used plastic bottles. I started using this dish soap bottle from Trader Joe’s back in 2008, when I made my first batch of homemade dish soap. That was in June, 2008! and I’d been using it for at least [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Pick something new for the season!
Saturday, March 19th, 2011The seasons are in flux right now, and whether you’re looking forward to spring or slowing down as you enter into fall, this is a great time to take a moment and pick something new to learn or do! (The change of seasons doesn’t have to be all about packing up and sorting through your [...]
Happy Eco-News Fridays!
Friday, March 18th, 2011Michelle Obama to write book about White House garden The world’s top 10 walking cities [SLIDESHOW] Identify and geo-tag trees with your iPhone 10 Essential Tools to ReMake Trash Into Treasure How two 15-year-old Girl Scouts (and Grist readers) changed Kellogg’s How to Buy and Keep Cheese Fresh Without Plastic EPA’s New Pollution Rules Take [...]
Q&A with Tiny Footprint Coffee, & Giveaway!
Thursday, March 17th, 2011We were recently introduced to our bretheren in Tiny Choosingville, Tiny Footprint Coffee, and became immediately enamored with their ethos and motivation. So we’re thrilled to present a Q&A with Tiny Footprint- and read to the bottom of the post for today’s giveaway of free coffee! What’s the story behind Tiny Footprint Coffee- where did [...]
CSA Season Start-up!
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011I know, we talk about this every spring, don’t we? But really: don’t forget to sign up for your local CSA this year! I am going to mail in a check for our deposit this week. Actually, our regular CSA has changed their categories, and I think it’s because the regular “full share” from last [...]
Greener Advertising
Tuesday, March 15th, 2011A friend recently told me about a fantastic paper-saving advertising technique she witnessed at a bus station in Mexico: An man passed through the aisles of this particular bus station, handing out advertising flyers to all of the waiting passengers. When he reached the end of the row, he turned around and came back down [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Make a “draft” printer!
Saturday, March 12th, 2011If you work in an office with multiple printers or a printer with several trays, propose that you make a “Draft” printer. It’s simple: Dedicate a printer (or one of the paper trays) for “draft,” and simply use paper that has been printed on one side in the paper tray. This way you get 2x [...]
“Happy Eco-News” Fridays!
Friday, March 11th, 2011Check out Helsinki’s underground shadow city Ask Umbra on making yogurt at home, with or without electricity Global Investments In Clean Energy to Hit $240 Billion in 2011 Help Michael Pollan Write the Food Rules Expanded Edition - Submit Your Rules Via Slow Food When polar bear cubs emerge from their den [Must-Watch Video!] 10 [...]
Water-Saving Faucet Love
Thursday, March 10th, 2011I recently fell in love… with a faucet. While out and about one day, I visited a public bathroom and became reacquainted with a rarely-seen example of an incredibly green faucet: the Smart Faucet. When you’re ready to wash up, you press the lever and the water flows on-demand. This smartiepants device eliminates water waste [...]
Organic Cotton Swab Review
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011I posted several months ago about switching from my old standby cotton swabs to an organic kind - I mean, lets face it: even though I try to not use things like swabs, a girl still needs to clean her ears every once in a while - and once it’s motorcycling season again I’ll have [...]
« Previous Entries